Systems and methods to manage privilege to speak

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses to prioritize requests for speaking privilege in a communication session. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from an audience one or more bids for privilege to speak in a communication session; selecting one or more speakers from the audience based at least in part on the one or more bids; receiving voice communications from the one or more speakers; and transmitting the voice communications to the audience in the communication session.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/888,903, filed Feb. 8, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/467,146 filed Aug. 24, 2006 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/329,459 filed Jan. 10, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/830,927, filed Jul. 13, 2006 and entitled “Systems and Methods to Manage a Queue of People Requesting Real Time Communication Connections.” The disclosures of the above referenced related applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

At least some embodiments of the disclosure relate to user interface techniques to assist people to connect for real-time communication, such as connecting people for telephonic conversation, chat, document sharing, screen-sharing, etc.

BACKGROUND

Internet, cellular communication systems, television, newspaper, etc., provide diverse communication media channels through which people may receive information and/or communicate with each other.

People may use a web site to chronologically publish personal thoughts and web links. Such a web site may be referred to as a blog. A blog may include content showing what is happening in the life of the person, collecting information on certain types of subjects of interest to the person, providing links to related web sites, etc. Thus, a personal web site may include a collection of contents that may be helpful to people of similar interest.

Telephone systems allow users to conduct real time two-way voice communication. Traditional land-line based telephone systems connect one telephone set to another through one or more switching centers, operated by one or more telephone companies, over a land-line based telephone network. Traditionally, a telephone connection is based on a circuit switched network.

Current telephone systems may also use a packet-switched network for a telephone connection. A packet switched network is typical in a computer data environment. Recent developments in the field of Voice over IP (VoIP) allow the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol, in which voice information is packaged in a digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Cellular networks allow a cellular phone to connect to a nearby cellular base station through an air interface for wireless access to a telephone network. Recent developments in wireless telephone systems allow not only voice communications but also data communications. For example, cellular phones can now receive and send short messages through a Short Message Service (SMS). Web pages can now be retrieved through wireless cellular links and displayed on cellular phones. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) has been developed to overcome the constraints of relatively slow and intermittent nature of wireless links to access information similar or identical to World Wide Web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface to create a listing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface to start a communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface to display the status of a communication connection process and to provide the user guidance through the process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-12 show examples of flow diagrams of a process to connect a user and an adviser for communication according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a method to display a call button according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method to monitor and control a connection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a diagram of a system to assist and track connections according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram example of a data processing system which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a user interface to collect comments on a request for a communication connection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a user interface to manage a queue of requesters of phone connections to a callee according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a method to manage a queue of requesters of real time communication connections to a communicatee according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a method to connect a callee with one of callers according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21-24 illustrate one scenario of prioritizing a waiting queue via a bidding process according to one embodiment.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example of prioritizing a waiting queue via a lump sum bid for queue priority according to one embodiment.

FIG. 26 illustrates an example of prioritizing a waiting queue via a maximum bid for queue priority according to one embodiment.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example of prioritizing a waiting queue via a bidding process with a presentation of estimated waiting time according to one embodiment.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example of prioritizing a queue of requests waiting for a time slot of pre-determine length via a bid on queuing priority according to one embodiment.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example of prioritizing a waiting queue via a bid on queuing priority for a time period that has a user specified length according to one embodiment.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of prioritizing a waiting queue based on a price bid that is dependent on a time period of actual connection provided by the system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 31 illustrates a method to prioritize a waiting queue according to one embodiment.

FIG. 32 illustrates a method to manage the privilege to speak in a communication session according to one embodiment.

FIG. 33 illustrates a method to manage the privilege to speak in a phone conference according to one embodiment.

FIG. 34 illustrates a method to auction the privilege to speak according to one embodiment.

FIG. 35 shows a system including a connection server configured on a packet switched network according to one embodiment.

FIG. 36 shows a connection server according to one embodiment.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatuses to prioritize requests for speaking privilege in a communication session are described herein. Some embodiments are summarized in this section.

In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving from an audience one or more bids for privilege to speak in a communication session; selecting one or more speakers from the audience based at least in part on the one or more bids; receiving voice communications from the one or more speakers; and transmitting the voice communications to the audience in the communication session.

The disclosure includes methods and apparatuses which perform these methods, including data processing systems which perform these methods, and computer readable media which when executed on data processing systems cause the systems to perform these methods.

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system is to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, instant messaging, and other forms of real time communications.

For example, benefits of the services may include anonymity for one or more of the parties of the real time communication. For example, the service can connect the caller and callee without revealing the contact information of one party to another, such as the actual telephone number. The services may include filtering callers/participants so that only those who are willing to pay can get connected. The services may include collecting payments for the callee so that the callee can earn money from talking to the callers over the phone without the burden of managing payment collection, etc. The services may include scheduling so that the real time communication are initiated at a convenient time (e.g., no night calls). The services may include queue managing to serve both the callees and the callers. The services may include providing the cool, convenient click-to-call functionality to attract callers for the callees.

In one embodiment, the services may include providing a persistent and consistent way to reach people. For example, a web link, or a toll-free number, or a local phone number can be provided by the system so that the callers can reach the callee using the web link, or the toll-free number, or the local phone number even after the telephone of the callee has been changed. The callee can publish the web link and/or the phone number, knowing that the calls will follow if the callee updates the telephone number in the system. The callees do not need to reveal their actual telephone numbers to the potential callers. If desired, the callee can keep the caller from knowing the actual telephone number of the callee for anonymity.

In general, the service may provide any combination of the benefits discussed above.

Many examples are presented in the context of telephone connection for real time conversation. Embodiments of the present invention can also be applied to other real time communication systems (e.g., text chat, instant messaging, voice/video conferencing, etc.) in a way similar to the telephone conversation.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, callees who have customers, fans, far-away clients, etc., can make money talking with them on the phone. The system provides the callees with services of managing the transactions such that the callees can sell what they have to say with reduced/minimum efforts on business aspects. For example, a blogger can earn money from the blog by talking to the interested readers of the blog.

In one embodiment, the callee can sign up for a call button of the system and/or for a phone number provided by the system. The call button and/or the assigned phone number can be used as the contact information of the callee. For example, the callee can publish the call button and/or the phone number in a variety of media channels and environments, such as in the blog, in advertisements, in news articles, in column discussions, in business cards, etc.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the callees manage their own distribution of the call button and/or the phone number, since the callees may have their unique ways to reach potential callers (e.g., through blogs, home pages, business cards, etc.). The callees can bring the call button and/or the phone number into the context where the customers of the callees are, such as their own web pages or blogs or business cards (e.g., via a phone number).

Alternatively, or in combination, the system may also help the callees to reach callers through presenting the call buttons and/or the phone numbers in marketplaces, such as online listings of services, advertisements embedded in the search results generated by a search engine, classified advertisements, etc.

After signing up for the call button and/or the phone number, the callees can set up their own prices and their own hours for receiving the calls. When the call button and/or the phone number leads the callers to callees, the callees can earn money by talking to the callers without having to manage scheduling, queue, payment collection, privacy, etc. For example, the callees can enjoy the benefit of anonymity provided by the system, since the callees do not have to reveal their actual phone numbers to the potential callers in order to receive calls. The system provides the filtering functionality so that some callers can reach the callees.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the services of the system are packaged and delivered through the use of a call button and/or a communication reference (such as a phone number) assigned to the callee. The callees do not have to rely upon a marketplace, such as keen.com, to reach callers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface to create a listing according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the callee can specify the rate the callee will charge the callers when the callers want to talk to the callee.

In one embodiment, the callee may specify the price (rate) in terms of a package, such as $100 for one hour. A call package has a specified price for a given time limit that is longer than one minute (e.g., one hour). Alternatively, the callee may specify the price in terms of a price per unit of time, such as $2 per minute, without specifying a time limit.

In one embodiment, when the rate is specified as a package that includes a time limit (e.g., 60 minutes, two hours, etc.), the callee can further specify the policy for the continuation of the call beyond the time limit (e.g., $50 per 30 minutes thereafter, or end call, or no longer charge).

In the user interface illustrated in FIG. 2, the callee can specify the phone number (e.g., 415-861-6100) at which the system will call the callee when a customer wishes to speak to the callee. The phone number is used by the system to call the callee and make a connection to the customer. The phone number of the callee is not provided to callers (customers of the callee) for anonymity.

In one embodiment, the callee may specify a listing name (e.g., for this listing). The callee may create multiple listings with different rates, phone numbers, etc., in the same account. Optionally, the callee provide may further description and a photo (e.g., a photo of the callee) for the listing.

In one embodiment, the photo of the listing should be no larger than 70 pixel wide by 70 pixel high and should be in either GIF or JPEG format. Alternatively, the system may automatically convert the image uploaded from the callee into the appropriate size and format. However, it is understood that other sizes can also be used.

After the listing is created, the callee can select the button “Continue” to access the next screen for getting the call button.

In one embodiment, the web server of the system provides the callee with: a call button and/or a phone number, such as 1-800-GO-ETHER extension XXXX, after the callee finishes creating the listing. The call button and the phone number assigned to the callee are intended for the callee to place wherever a caller (buyer) will come across them.

For example, a golf pro provides great swing tips. The golf pro as a callee (seller) can put a call button on a blog, on a web page, in the footer of an email, etc. When people are reading the blog about golf equipment, they might think “I'm really interested in what this person has to say, I think I'll pay to talk to them live and ask them all my questions.”

In one embodiment, the call button includes HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) code which contains a reference to the listing and one or more links to a server of the system. The HTML code can be inserted into the blog and/or the home page of the callee, or an email. When the HTML code is rendered in the browser of the caller (e.g., when the caller visits the blog or the home page of the callee, or when the caller views an email from the callee), the browser shows a call button which can be selected (e.g., through “clicking” on the call button using a cursor controlling device, such as a mouse, a track ball, a joystick, a touch screen, etc.) to request a phone connection. An example of the appearance of a call button includes an icon showing a telephone set and the text “call now”, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, when the call button is rendered, the appearance of the call button may include an icon, which when selected or activated can initiated a request for a real time communication connection.

Alternatively, the call button can be specified in documents in a format other than HTML, such as in an extensible markup language (XML).

In one embodiment, the call button can change its state depending on the state of the caller and/or callee. For instance, if the callee is already on a phone call with a caller, the button would indicate “busy,” so that a second caller would see that the callee is already on a telephone. Clicking on the button in this instance would give the second caller the ability to get in line to talk to the callee. Or, in another embodiment, the second caller clicking on the button could give him the ability to join the call in progress.

In one embodiment, the call button can change its state depending on what the callee explicitly indicates. The callee could, for instance, tell the system, via a web form or telephone IVR, that he is currently “taking calls” or “not taking calls” or “offering video” or “offering chat” or “taking appointments” or taking “arranged calls” or “callbacks.” He could indicate that he is taking calls and is “by my phone,” indicating a heightened presence. Depending upon each of such states, the system would lead callers down different communication paths. If a callee is “by my [his/her] phone,” the system might call the caller first, since it's highly probably that the callee will be available for his/her side of the connection. If the callee is simply “taking calls,” the system might call the callee first, since he/she might be the more unlikely party to be available. Other communication paths include getting in line, joining a conference call, turning on a video connection, scheduling an appointment, entering into a chat session, etc.

Similarly, the golf pro can use the phone number for various offline media and other media. For example, if the golf pro writes a column for Golf Digest magazine, he can put the phone number that is assigned to him (e.g., Ether phone number) at the end of the column, such as 1-800-GO-ETHER, extension XXXX. The system can even provide him with a custom 800 number, such as 1-800-GOLF-PRO, rather than the extension to a generic 1-800-GO-ETHER number. For example, the column may include the following message: “Call me to talk about your own golf swing. Dial 1-800-GOLF-PRO. $100/hour.” Alternatively, the Ether phone number can be a phone number local to a specific region of interest to the golf pro (e.g., having the same area code, or the same area code and exchange, as those in the target geographical area).

In one embodiment, the callee may request a phone number, such as “1-800-GO-ETHER” extension “YOU”, which is specifically assigned to the callee (and/or the listing). The callee can publish the assigned phone number in the blog, home page, printed publications, brochure, or business card. The phone number may be given out during a TV or radio talk show, etc. When the assigned phone number is called, the call is first connected to a server of the system. The system can then call the callee and join the caller and the callee for real time communication.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface to start a communication according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, after a caller selects a call button, the user interface as illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed (e.g., in the browser of the caller, or in a pop-up window).

In the example of FIG. 3, a call graphic is displayed to show the progress of making the connection. In FIG. 3, the photo of the callee (e.g., the photo uploaded by the callee to the server for the listing during the creation of the listing) is displayed with a link “More about me”, which when selected causes the browser to display the description of the listing corresponding to the call button.

In one embodiment, when the photo of the listing is not available, the system may present a standard icon to represent the callee.

In FIG. 3, an icon and the description “Your Telephone” are displayed to present the caller. An “ether” icon between the caller and callee represents the system. The link “How this works” under the “ether” icon can be selected to see the details of the call process, which can be helpful to a user who is not familiar with the system.

The user interface presents an entry to receive a time window (e.g., 4 hours) within which the caller is available to take a call back from the system to talk to the callee. The user interface also includes an entry to receive the phone number of the caller such that the system can call back the caller to make the connection between the caller and the callee in this time window.

In one embodiment, the user interface can be part of the VoIP client application (e.g., the user interface of a VoIP terminal, such as the user interface of a VoIP-enable phone, or an application window of a VoIP application running on a computer or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)). The VoIP phone connection can be established, whether the user inputs the callback phone number or if the VoIP connection simply connects the two parties without the need of a phone number.

In FIG. 3, the user interface includes a button “call now” which when selected causes the user interface to send the time window and the callback phone number to a server to request for a phone connection.

In one embodiment, the user interface is part of the VoIP client application which can send the telephonic contact information (e.g., the phone number of the VoIP client application or a user ID of the VoIP system) to the server without the user explicitly specifying the call back number.

FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface to display the status of a communication connection process and to provide the user guidance through the process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the call graphic shows that the phone of the callee is off the hook, indicating that the callee has accept the call. The call graphic shows the icon “Press 1” to instruct the caller to press “1” on the phone to be connected to the callee.

The user interface further provides text explaining the status and instruction to the caller.

In one embodiment, before the callee accepts the call, the system calls the callee, during which the call graphic shows that the phone of the callee is ringing and the phone of the caller is on the hook, not yet answered by the callee. The text is provided in the user interface to explain the current status of the connection process and to instruct the user to wait while the system is contacting the callee.

Thus, in one embodiment, the system provides the user-friendly, step-by-step feedback and instruction to the caller to guide the caller through the connection process.

In one embodiment, after the connection between the caller and callee is established, the system further provides feedback and instructions on the call graphic. For example, during the call the system can provide the accumulated call time for the purchased call. If the purchased call has a time limit, the call graphic can further show the remaining minutes of the call. When the time limit is approaching (or reached), the call graphic can provide the guidance and instructions for “recharge” (e.g., by purchasing a further package, or switching to a per minute mode with a further time limit, etc.). In one embodiment, the options to continue the call when the time limit is approaching (or reached) is displayed in the graphical user interface so that the caller may select an option in the graphical user interface without interrupting the conversation with the callee.

In one embodiment, if a purchased call with a time limit is interrupted/dropped before the time limit is reached, the caller can continue the call by requesting a re-connection with a time window. To help the caller, the call graphic can present the guidance and instructions for continue the call and present the status of the continuation of the call. For example, the call graphic may present a description of the continuation policy for interrupted/dropped call and show the remaining portion of the time window to resume the call.

One example scenario of using a call button that is placed in the blog, home page, or email of the callee (seller) is described below.

When the callee (seller) is taking calls, the call button of the callee (seller) says “Call Me.”

When the caller (buyer) clicks on the button, the caller (buyer) is led to a landing page that explains how the service works and indicates the price, which might be $100 to talk on the phone for 60 minutes and $1 per minute thereafter.

When the caller (buyer) clicks the “Continue” button on the landing page, the caller (buyer) is brought to a page to specify payment options (e.g., credit card information). Or, if the caller (buyer) is a returning member, the caller (buyer) can sign in (e.g., through providing the correct member name and password) to instruct the system to use the billing information (e.g., credit card and billing address) that is already on file (e.g., that has been previously submitted to the system and that is stored in the database of the system in association with account of the caller). If the caller (buyer) is not a member, the caller (buyer) is presented with a page to register with the system and become a member. Alternatively, the caller (buyer) may specify the payment information without becoming a member.

For example, the page may identify the caller (buyer) as a member according to the information provided by a cookie maintained by the web browser of the caller (buyer). If the cookie exists, the cookie includes the member name of the caller (buyer). If the cookie indicates that the caller (buyer) has already signed in, the server may skip the sign-in process; otherwise, the caller (buyer) is prompt to sign in. If the caller (buyer) is new to the network, the caller (buyer) is asked to register and become a member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the call button/link does not bring the caller (buyer) inside the marketplace (e.g., a list showing competitors). Instead, the actions related to the call button happen in the environment of the callee (seller). For example, the web page(s) can be just a pop-up window so that the caller does not have to leave the web page (e.g., blog or home page) of the callee (seller). The landing page may be within a frame of the blog/home page of the callee, or within an applet embedded in the blog/home page of the callee.

Alternatively, the call button may bring the caller (buyer) to a VoIP application and provide the guidance and instruction to the caller on the user interface of the VoIP application.

In one embodiment, the VoIP application has browser functionality and shows the call button with the blog, web page or email in the user interface of the VoIP application.

Alternatively, the call button may bring the caller (buyer) to the marketplace which shows the offers of the competitors of the callee (seller).

In one embodiment, after confirming the payment information, the caller (buyer) is led to a page to specify the phone number that the caller (buyer) would like to be called back at and the time window within which the caller (buyer) is willing to receive the call back to talk to the callee (seller). The time window might be “four hours.” FIG. 3 shows an example of such a page.

When the caller (buyer) continues (e.g., pressing the button “Call Now” in FIG. 3), the system obtains the authorization to charge an amount, when the call is connected (e.g., $100 from the buyer's credit card, if the credit card is the method of payment).

In one embodiment, a call for a package of bulk minutes (e.g., that has a specified time limit) is charged when the two parties are connected, regardless of whether the duration of the time limit is reached. In one embodiment, to avoid the difficulty in charging the buyer (e.g., $100) to talk to a seller but the seller fails to call back within the time window requested by the buyer, the system does not charge the buyer until after a connection between the caller (buyer) and the callee (seller) is successfully established (e.g., for a minimum period of time, or after the phone call is completed, or after the time limit is reached, etc.).

In one embodiment, the system “pre-authorizes” the charge (e.g., $100) on the buyer's credit card to make sure that, should the connection be completed, the buyer would be able to pay. In one embodiment, the system indicates the status of pre-authorization, charging/not-charging to the buyer in the user interface that guides the user through the process of making the connection.

Alternatively, the system may make the charge (e.g., $100) on the buyer's credit card when starting to make the connection and make a refund to the buyer if the connection is not successful within the call back time window specified by the caller (buyer). Alternatively, the system may charge a portion of the fee (e.g., $100) during the phone connection set up period, and refund the charge if the connection is not successful or charge the remaining portion after the connection is made successfully (e.g., after the phone call is completed).

In one embodiment, the system determines whether or not to pre-charge the buyer based on statistical data, such as the credit history of the caller (buyer), the success rate of the callee (seller) to call back within the time window specified by the caller (buyer), etc. Thus, for example, if the system determines that the call is likely to be established within the time window, the system may pre-charge the caller; for example, if the system determines that the caller (buyer) has a good credit history, the system may defer the charge to a later stage (e.g., after the completion of the call).

In one embodiment, after the system determines that the caller (buyer) has a sufficient source to pay for the call, the system calls the callee (seller) and says: “We have a caller who is calling you on your call button. He is paying your $100 fee and is willing to wait up to 4 hours to talk to you. Please press 1 on your telephone keypad if you want to take the call now; press 2 if you can't take it now but can indeed take it within the next 4 hours that has been requested, or press 3 if you won't be able to take it within 4 hours.” Note that different system may associate different sets of key pressing events (e.g., press 1, press 2, press 3, . . . ) with different options.

In one embodiment, the system can optionally provide the callee (seller) with more information about the caller (buyer) based on pre-recorded information. For example, the system can record the self introduction of the caller (buyer) (e.g., the name of the caller, for instance ‘Bob’) so that the system tells the callee “We have ‘Bob’ . . . ” instead of “We have a caller . . . ”, where ‘Bob’ is the recording of the self-introduction of the callee (buyer).

In one embodiment, the system has the name of caller (buyer) recorded as part of the member preference/attribute of the caller (buyer). Alternatively, the system can use a text-to-speech program to “read out” the name of the buyer when introducing the call to the callee (seller). Alternatively, the system can record the name of the caller (buyer) when the system receives a call from the caller at the phone number assigned to the callee, or callback the caller first to obtain the recording.

In one embodiment, if the callee (seller) presses 1, the system tells the callee (seller) to hold on while the system calls the caller (buyer). The screen of the caller (buyer) is updated automatically to indicate that the callee (seller) is ready and the caller (buyer) is being called back for the connection between the caller (buyer) and the callee (seller).

If the callee (seller) presses 2, the system tells the caller (buyer) (e.g., on the screen of the caller) that the callee (seller) can't take the call now but expect to take the call within an identified period of time (e.g., the next 4 hours). The system will arrange to make the phone connection within the identified period of time (e.g., the next 4 hours).

In one embodiment, the system may use alternative numbers to indicate a response of the callee.

For example, the system may send a message (e.g., through email, a web-based user interface for the callee (seller), a voice mail, an instant message, etc) to the callee about the call and the identified period of time (e.g., 4-hour time window) so that the callee (seller) may indicate to the system within the identified period of time (e.g., next 4 hours) that the callee (seller) is ready for the call.

Alternatively, the system may try to call the callee (seller) periodically or according to a time period specified by the callee (seller). For example, the callee may press 15 after pressing 2 to indicate that system should try to make the connection after 15 minutes. Alternatively, the callee may provide such an indication through replying to the email, instant message, short text message, or through a network-based user interface (e.g., web-based) that is designed to manage the user account. For example, the network-based user interface may present a list of calls in the queue and the corresponding time windows. When ready to take the next phone call, the callee can indicate to the system that the callee is currently available to take a call (or a particular one of the calls in the list).

Alternatively, the caller (buyer) may try to call the callee (seller) again within the time window (e.g., next 4 hours).

In one embodiment, the system may monitor the activities related to this call to avoid duplicated efforts in making the connection within the time window (e.g., next 4 hours) so that the caller and callee are not interrupted by unnecessary attempts to make the connection.

If the callee (seller) presses 3, the system tells the caller (buyer) that the callee (seller) can't take the call within the requested time window. The caller (buyer) in this case is not charged the price (e.g., $100). In one embodiment, the caller (buyer) is charged the price (e.g., $100) only when the call between the caller (buyer) and callee (seller) is actually connected.

When the system makes the connection between the caller (buyer) and callee (seller), the system may call the caller (buyer) first or call the callee (seller) first, or call both at about the same time. For example, the system may determine which one of the caller and callee is more reliable and call the reliable one of the two first. The system may determine which of the parties is more reliable based on statistic data collected from past call connection activities. Alternatively, the system may connect to the less reliable party first. Alternatively, the callee (seller) may specify the preference of who is to be called first as part of the specification of the listing.

When the caller (buyer) calls the phone number assigned to the callee (assignee) (e.g., 800-GO-ETHER extension 4567), the system may first authenticate the caller and/or arrange the payment options and then prompt the caller to enter the time window and the call back phone number using the key pad of the phone. An interactive voice response (IVR) system can be used to interact with the caller so that the caller does not need web access to be connect to the callee (seller).

Alternatively, the system may determine automatically the telephone contact information of the caller from the call received from the caller (buyer) (e.g., through call ID service or an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) service) and use the telephone contact information in calling back. The system may present an option for the caller (buyer) to confirm the automatically detected telephone contact information of the caller for calling back so that the caller has an opportunity to specify different telephone contact information for the call back.

In one embodiment, when the system determines that the caller has a graphical user interface (e.g., web access) while requesting the connection for the call (e.g., when the caller pushes a button on a web interface to request the call, or when the caller is signed into the system or when the online presence of the caller is detected, or when the call is initiated from a VoIP terminal that has a graphics capability), the system uses the graphical user interface to assist the caller. When the system fails to detect the online presence of the caller, the system uses the IVR system to provide the caller (buyer) with guidance. Thus, the system automatically switches between using the web interface to guide the caller or using the IRV interface to guide the caller.

In one embodiment, the system may further use other communication systems to guide the callee (e.g., according to the presence and availability of such communication systems). For example, the interface may be Wireless Application Protocol based (WAP-based) applications, or based on instant messaging, or based on a custom designed client-server application/protocol. Thus, a web-based interface is presented as an example. User interfaces based on other communication protocols and/or other types of communication systems can also be used.

In one embodiment, the system may ask the caller (buyer) to hang up temporarily until the callee accepts the call. Alternatively, the system may allow the caller (buyer) to stay on the line while the system attempts to reach the callee (seller).

In one embodiment, the system allows the callee (seller) to specify one or more alternative phone numbers in case the callee (seller) is not reachable at the primary phone number specified for the listing. Similarly, the caller (buyer) may also specify one or more alternative call back phone numbers. In one embodiment, the system allows the parties to specify other telephonic references (e.g., user names of Internet telephonic application) to make the telephone connection. In one embodiment, the system may further allow the user to specify other identities to make connections for other types of real time communications, such as chat, instant messaging, video conferencing, etc.

In one embodiment, the system arranges the call according to aspects of the methods described in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0252820 (application Ser. No. 10/360,776, filed on Jun. 12, 2003), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

When the caller (buyer) requests the connection using the call button, the web server provides the instructions and feedback to guide the caller (buyer) through the call process.

When the caller (buyer) dials the callee's listing via the Ether phone number (e.g., the 800 number assigned to the callee), an interactive voice response (IVR) system is used to provide similar instructions and feedback to guide the caller (buyer) through the call process.

For example, the caller (buyer) registers and creates an identity using the phone number and a PIN. A credit card is asked for via IVR or live operator to set up payment options. Then the call window is entered on the keypad of the phone, such as pressing the string of keys “4*” to indicate a “4” hours window or “60#” for a “60” minutes window.

In one embodiment, when the callee is having a telephonic connection with the system, the system prompts the caller (buyer) to utter a message for the callee (seller). For example, the caller (buyer) may say “I'm Bob Stanley—remember we met at the golf conference last weekend.” The system records the messages of the caller (buyer). When the callee (seller) gets the call, the system says, “There's a buyer on the line who's paid $100 and is willing to wait 4 hours and here's how he identifies himself: ‘I'm Bob Stanley—remember we met at the golf conference last weekend.’” The system in such a way provides as much identifying information to the callee (seller) as possible so that the callee (seller) may screen the callers for acceptance. In one embodiment, the system behaves as an automatic secretary, screening who's on the line for the callee (seller).

In one embodiment, the system provides functionality for bulk-minute pricing.

For example, once a call starts, the system metes out the time that has been bought. When the time limit, for example, 60 minutes, is up, the system tells both parties on the phone that the time is up. The system then prompts the buyer to add more money to buy a second package, or go to per minute pricing, or end the call, or let them talk further for free, according to the continuation policy of the call which is specified by the callee (seller) in the listing (e.g., specified during the creation of the listing).

In one embodiment, if the parties hang up after just, for example, 35, minutes of a 60-minute call, the system has a time window in which it expires the remaining minutes. The time window can be set quite large, such as a year, so that someone can buy a 1,000-minute discount package and talk 100 times over the course of the year. Or the time window can be set small, such as 30 minutes, in which case the caller (buyers) can call again within the 30-minute window after the 35-minute call to keep talking based on the already purchased 60-minute package, but the caller (buyers) can be connected on the basis of the unused portion of the 60-minute call package after a break that is longer than the time window.

In one embodiment, the system time window specifies the longest period of break before the unused portion of the purchased package expires.

In one embodiment, the system time window specifies the period from the starting of the conversation and the time when the purchased package expires. For example, the system may specify a window of 4 hours or so by default, so that people who get cut off or interrupted can finish their calls in this window of time.

In one embodiment, the system time window is based on the size of the purchased package. The larger the time limit of the package, the larger is the time window. In one embodiment, the expiration of the package is based on a limit on the separate calls (e.g., three). In one embodiment, the expiration of the package is based on the expiration time window and the limit on separate calls, whichever is reached first.

In one embodiment, the system allows the callee (seller) to specify the expiration time window in the specification of the listing (e.g., as part of the continuation policy of the call package) and/or the limit on the separate calls.

FIGS. 5-12 show examples of flow diagrams of a process to connect a user and an adviser for telephonic conversation according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, when a caller selects (e.g., clicks) on a call button according to one embodiment of the present invention, the selection (e.g., click) leads down several different paths depending on the availability status of the seller.

For example, in FIG. 5, the system determines (201) the current status of the adviser at the time the telephonic connection is started. In one embodiment, the current status of the adviser is determined based at least partially on the information provided by the adviser. For example, the adviser can specify the scheduled hours of the day during which the adviser is expected to take calls; the adviser may select a button (e.g., push through placing a cursor over the button on a display of a graphical user interface and activating a selecting device, such as a key or a button of a cursor positioning device such as a mouse or a touch pad or a joystick, etc.) on a web page, or make a phone call to the system, to indicate whether the adviser is currently busy and not answering new calls and/or to further specify the estimated duration of the busy period. The adviser may select a button on a user interface (e.g., a web page designed for the manage of the listing and/or account of the adviser) to indicate that the adviser is now free and ready to take calls. The adviser may pick up the phone call from the system and indicate to the system the current status of the adviser. The adviser may transmit the current status information to the system using instant messages, email, SMS messages, etc.

If the current status (203) of the adviser is “Taking Calls Now” or something equivalent, the system starts (e.g., immediately) a telephone connection and tracks the call (205).

If the current status (203) of the adviser is “Taking Calls Shortly”, the system starts (207) to arrange the call to be placed within the time period specified by the caller without trying to call the adviser immediately, since the adviser is temporary busy and will be available to take calls within a short period of time.

If the current status (203) of the adviser is “Not Taking Calls for a While” or something equivalent, the system starts (209) to make an appointment for the user to call the adviser, since the adviser is not available to take the call and will not be available for a longer period of time.

In FIG. 6, when the system starts to at least initiate a telephone connection (e.g., in response to a request from a selected call button), the system displays (301) a landing page to at least initiate a telephone connection and track the call. For example, the web server of the system transmits information defining the landing page to the web browser of the user to show the landing page (e.g., in a pop-up window).

For example, the landing page may show the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, show/explain the process to make the connection, buttons to navigate the process, option to mail the adviser, etc.

Optionally, the system alerts (303) the adviser about the request for telephone conversation (e.g., through a web-based user interface, or through email, instant messaging, short text message, etc.)

The system determines whether the user has been authenticated (305). If the user has not been authenticated, the system authenticates (307) the user. For example, the system signs in the user if the user is already a member, or registers the user as a new member if the user is not yet a member.

The system then determines (309) a source of payment for the call.

After the system has identified a source of payment for the call based on the price for the call specified by the adviser in the listing, the system may further determine if the adviser is still having the status of “Taking Calls Now”. In certain instances, the process of authenticating the user and securing the source of payment may take an extended period of time such that the availability status of the adviser may have changed.

If the adviser is no longer available for immediate connection, the system proceeds (317) according to the current status of the adviser, based on whether the current status is “Taking Calls Shortly” or “Not Taking Calls for a While”.

If the adviser is still available for immediate connection, the system displays (313) a call setup page. The call setup page may show the progress of call and user interface elements to receive the time window and the phone number of the user (caller).

Once the time window within which the user (caller) is available for the call and the call back phone number of the user is received, the system calls (315) the adviser.

In FIG. 7, after the system starts (401) to call the adviser, the system updates (403) the call setup page. For example, the system may play an animation and/or sound clip and/or a text message to indicate that the system is calling the adviser, in one embodiment.

Then, the system determines whether or not the adviser answered the call (405).

If the adviser failed to answer the call, the system sends (407) a mail to the adviser about the unanswered call. The system notifies (409) the user that the adviser did not answer the call and a mail has been sent to the adviser. The system then presents (411) the user with the option of making an appointment with the adviser.

If the adviser answered the call, the system obtains the adviser's choice (413) on the call.

The adviser may indicate that the adviser will take the call in the time window specified by the caller, in which case, the system notifies (415) the user that the adviser will take the call in the time window. Then, the system waits (417) for a period of time to call the adviser again. Alternatively, the system may try the connection based on an indication from the adviser that the adviser is ready to take the call (e.g., by calling the system, selecting a button or a link on a web page in the account of the adviser, sending an email/instant message/short text message to the system or replying to a message from the system about the call, etc.)

The adviser may indicate that the adviser cannot take the call in the time window specified by the caller, in which case, the system notifies (421) the user (caller) that the adviser is not able to take the call and presents (423) the user with the options of updating the time window and making an appointment.

The adviser may indicate that the adviser wants to take the call now, in which case, the system notifies (421) the user that the adviser is connected and the server is now calling the user (at which point of the process, the caller may or may not be on the phone). The system then determines if the user is already on the line (433).

If the user is not already on the line, the system starts (435) to call the user and determines whether the user answered the call (437).

If the user did not answer the call back, the system terminates (443) the call (443) and the adviser is notified.

After the user answers the call back, the user is on one line and the adviser on another line. The system then prompts (439) the user to accept the charge of the call before connection to the adviser and determines whether the user accepts the charge (441).

If the user accepts the charge, the system connects (449) the user to the adviser (e.g., by joining the calls) and starts to monitor aspects of the call (e.g., duration) and charge the user.

If the user rejects the charge or fails to provide a response within a predetermined period of time, the system terminates (443) call. After the termination of the call, the system updates (445) the user interface to show the reason for the termination. Optionally, the system mails (447) the user about the termination of the call.

In FIG. 8, the system displays (501) a landing page, if the adviser's status is “Not Taking Calls for a While”. The landing page may show the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, and show the process to reach the adviser, buttons to navigate the process, explanation of availability, etc.

Optionally, the system alerts (503) the adviser about the request for telephone conversation.

In one embodiment, the system receives (505) from the landing page the user selection whether to mail (e.g., email or use other types of messaging systems) the adviser or to make an appointment with the adviser.

If the user selection (507) is to mail the adviser, the system determines if the user has been authenticated (509). If the user has not been authenticate, the system authenticates (515) the user. For example, if there is no cookie in the web browser of the user indicating that the user is currently in a valid session, the user may be presented with an interface to sign in or to register.

If the authenticated user chooses to mail the adviser, the system presents (511) a page to receive the subject and message of the mail from the user. After receiving the subject and message of the mail, the system sends (513) the mail to the adviser (without showing the mailing address of the adviser to the user and without showing the mailing address of the user to the adviser) in accordance with one embodiment.

In one embodiment, the mail is delivered electronically (e.g., through an email, instant message, SMS message, web mail). Alternatively, the mail may be delivered as voice mail, print out, etc.

If the user selection (507) is to make an appointment, the system starts (517) to make an appointment.

In FIG. 9, the system displays (601) a landing page for making an appointment. The landing page may display one or more of the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, and show stages of operations to make the appointment, buttons to navigate through the stages of operations, show the option to mail the adviser, etc.

The system displays (603) entries to receive a requested appointment time. The entries can be part of the landing page or a page displayed after a navigation button is selected. In one embodiment, the entries are used to receive one or more of the date, start time, time length of the appointment, the time zone of the user, etc.

In one embodiment, the system further displays existing schedules and the phone number of the user, etc. for the convenience of the user (e.g., if the user is already authenticated at this point of the process).

After the requested time of the appointment is received from the user, the system determines if the adviser is available at the requested time (605). If the adviser is not available at the requested time, the system prompts (607) the user to adjust the appointment time; otherwise, the system proceeds to the task of filtering the callers.

If the system determines that the user has not been authenticated (609), the system authenticates (611) the user through signing in the user or registering the user. The system then determines (613) if a sufficient source of payment for the call is available from the user.

If there is a sufficient source of payment for the call, the system accepts the appointment and displays (615) a page to confirm the appointment. The confirmation page may show confirmation text including the appointment time and the name of the adviser.

In one embodiment, a callee (e.g., an advisor) can specify the times of day when the callee would be available for an appointment. This schedule can be set for the next few days. The schedule can also be a repeating schedule of when the caller will be available each week. For instance, a graduate student may have open “office hours” every Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm. Then, when the caller seeks to make an appointment, the available time frames for the appointment are displayed according to the schedule of the callee. The caller can see the times when the callee will be available for this appointment. Thus, the caller can therefore select an appointment time from the open periods preset by the callee. When such an approach is used, the appointment has a much higher likelihood of being requested during a suitable time and therefore has a much higher likelihood of being successful.

In one embodiment, after the appointment is made, the system automatically starts to make connections to the caller and the callee separately at the requested time of the appointment. Alternatively, the system may reserve a time slot on the schedule of the callee on behalf of the caller and request the caller to make a request for a connection at the scheduled time. Alternatively, the system may request the adviser (callee) to make the request for the connection. For example, the system may determine a less reliable one of the two to make a request for the connection, or contacting the less reliable one first, during the appointment time is reached before starting to contact the other party.

In FIG. 10, the system displays (601) a landing page for arranging a call. The landing page may display one or more of the name, photo, status, rate of the adviser, show stages of operations to make the appointment, buttons to navigate through the stages, show the option to mail the adviser.

The system receives (703) a user selection of whether to accept a callback, to make an appointment, or both.

If the user selection includes making an appointment, operation 707 or operation 709 is performed to set up an appointment (e.g., according to the process illustrated in FIG. 9).

If the user selection includes accepting a callback, the system receives (711) user input to identify the user and the call back phone number of the user and determines whether the user has been authenticated (713). If the user has not yet been authenticated, the system authenticates (715) the user (e.g., through signing in the user or registering the user).

After the user is authenticated, the system determines (717) if a sufficient source of payment for the call is available (e.g., to filter out non-serious callers). The system then displays a page to confirm the arrangement (e.g., confirmation text including the time window and the name of the adviser).

FIG. 11 shows an example to authenticate the user. In FIG. 11, after the system starts (801) to authenticate the user, the system determines (803) if there is information to indicate that the user is a member. The information may be in a cookie in the browser of the user, or a parameter encoded in an URL (universal resource locator) of a link, or a parameter in an applet running in the web browser.

If the user is a member (805), the system displays (811) a sign-in page which may include entries to receive a username and a password from the user. In one embodiment, the sign-in page may optionally further include the photo of the adviser, text alerting the user about the connection to the adviser, the rate to talk to the adviser, etc. Thus, the sign-in appears to be in the environment of the adviser. The system then authenticates (813) the user using the username and password received in the sign-in page.

If the user is not a member (805), the system displays (807) a registration page. The registration page may include information already collected about the user (e.g., during the interaction before the registration) for confirmation purpose. The registration page includes entries to receive username and password of the user. In one embodiment, the registration page may optionally further include the photo of the adviser, text alerting the user about the connection to the adviser, the rate to talk to the adviser, etc. Thus, the registration appears to be in the environment of the adviser. The system then creates (809) an account for the user using the information received from the registration page.

In one embodiment, after the user is authenticated, information is created to indicate that the user is authenticated for a valid session (e.g., using a cookie, a parameter in URL or in an applet) until the session expires or the user signs off.

FIG. 12 shows an example to determine if a sufficient source of payment of the call is available.

After the system starts (821) to determine if a sufficient source of payment for the call is available, the system determines (823) whether the call is charged by per interval (e.g., per minute). If the call is charged by per interval, the system determines (825) the minimum charge for the call (e.g., for one minute). If the call is not charged by per interval, the system determines (827) the price for a call package (e.g., $100 for 1 hour, as specified by the adviser).

The system then determines whether there is enough money in the account of the user (829) and/or whether there is an active credit card of the user is on file (839 and 831).

If the account of the user has enough money for the call and/or an active credit card of the user is not on file, the system optionally requests (841) for the credit card information and the associated billing address for security reason.

If the account of the user does not have enough money for the call, the system will pre-authorize (837) an amount according the requirement of the call for deposit purpose. If an active credit card of the user is on file, the system optionally presents (833) an option to update the credit card information. If no active credit card of the user is on file, the system requests (835) credit card information and billing address for pre-authorization.

In one embodiment, when information identifying the user is available (e.g., through a “cookie” implemented in the web browser or parameters encoded in the URL, or parameters stored in the variables of an applet running in the web browser, etc.), the system uses the information about the user to help the user. For example, from the member information database, the system may retrieve the phone numbers of the user. If there are multiple phone numbers for the user, a combo box is displayed for the user to select one from the known phone numbers of the user (or to type in a different one). If there is only one known phone number of the user, the system may display the known phone number of the user in an entry box as the default value.

If a user as identified by the information (e.g., cookie) is different from the current user, the current user can choose to edit the information and/or sign in as a different user.

In one embodiment, a user can enter the input information to set up a call, such as the call window and/or the callback phone number before the user is authenticated. When the user is subsequently authenticated (e.g., through signing in as an existing member or registering as a new member), the information provided by the user before the authentication process is used to update the account information (if changed).

FIG. 13 illustrates a method to display a call button according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the appearance of a call button is displayed according to the current availability status of the adviser to take the call.

For example, in FIG. 13, when the system receives (851) a request to display a call button of an adviser, the system determines (853) the current status of the adviser (at the time of the request). After the system determines (855) an appearance of the call button of the adviser to indicate the status of the adviser, the system presents (857) the call button of the adviser with the appearance to indicate the status of the adviser.

In one embodiment, the system further determines (859) (e.g., periodically) the current status of the adviser to update (861) the appearance of the button according the currently status of the adviser.

For example, the call button to be inserted in the blog of the callee can include an image at a URL on a server computer. When being requested the URL causes the server computer to determine a response based on the parameters encoded in the URL. For example, the URL can be pointing to a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program which provides or generates the image according to the current status of the adviser. The URL may include a parameter to identify the adviser and/or the advertisement.

For example, when the current status of the adviser is “Taking Calls Now”, the call button may show a telephone with text “Call Now”; when the current status of the adviser is “Taking Calls Shortly”, the call button may show an off-hook telephone with text “Arrange a Call”; when the current status of the adviser is “Not Taking Calls for a While”, the call button may show a telephone and a calendar with text “Appointment”.

In one embodiment, different types of availability status of a callee (adviser) includes: on call, off call, busy, get in line, schedule an appointment, join conference, etc. It is understood that different systems may implement more or less types of availability status of a callee. Further, the call button may include other current status information about the callee, such as price, how many people are in line to call the callee, the schedule of the callee, and/or others.

In one embodiment, the call button is implemented using an applet running in the browser of the user. The applet displays the call button according to the current status of the adviser and checks the status of the adviser periodically to update the appearance of the button. In one embodiment, when an estimated time until which the adviser can take the call is available (e.g., received in the system from the adviser when the system attempts to contact the adviser, or provided by the adviser when the adviser is talking to a different user, etc.), the call button also shows an indication of such an estimated time to help the user in selecting a time window.

Alternatively, the call button may be implemented in custom applications (e.g., as plug-in to web browsers, email clients, etc., or as stand-along applications). The call button may communicate with the server using a special purpose protocol.

In one embodiment, a web/email (document) authoring tool is designed to automatically detect the phone number of the callee in a web page/email/document. The authoring tool can be set up to replace the phone number of the callee with the corresponding call button assigned to the callee and/or the phone number (e.g., ether phone number) that is assigned to the callee. For example, the authoring tool can detect the occurrence of the phone number of the callee in the document and prompt the user of the authoring tool to replace the phone number of the callee with the call button and/or the phone number assigned by the system. If the user accepts the suggestion, the authoring tool automatically replace the phone number of the callee with the call button and/or the phone number assigned by the system.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method to monitor and control a connection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 14, after the system connects (871) a user to an adviser, the system determines (875) whether the current call is within a time window of a previously purchased call package (e.g., a year or 4 hours).

In one embodiment, a call is considered a continuation of the previously purchased call package if the current call is within the time window. Thus, if the call of a previously purchased call package is interrupted, the user can continue the call within the time window without having to purchase another package.

Based on whether or not the current call is the continuation of a previous call (877), the system determines (879) the time limit according to the previously purchased call package, or determines (881) the purchased minutes of the call package for the current call. The system then monitors (883) the call until the time limit for the current call is reached. When the time limit for the call is reached, the system alerts (885) the user and the adviser about the end of the time limit.

In one embodiment, the continuation policy specified by the adviser is retrieved (887) to process the call at the end of the time limit.

If the continuation policy (889) is “purchase a further package”, the system prompts (891) the user to purchase the next package to remain connected. For example, the user may be offered to continue the call at the price of $50 for another 30 minutes.

If the continuation policy (889) is “continue at a per minute price”, the system prompts (895) the user to accept the continuation at the per minute price.

If the continuation policy (889) is “no longer charge”, the system maintain (897) the connection for the user and the adviser until at least one of the user and the adviser hangs up.

If the continuation policy (889) is “end call”, the system disconnects (893) the user and the adviser after altering the user and the adviser.

In one embodiment, the system stores a replication of the policy of the package the user purchased with the records of the purchased call (e.g., the policy at the time the call button is selected for the call package, or at the time the user is first connected to the adviser for the call package, or at the time the user explicitly confirms the purchase of the call package, etc.). Thus, the adviser is free to change the listing for the future callers even before the users finish the purchased call packages without retroactively affecting the purchased calls.

Some of the above examples are in the context of telephonic conversations. From this description, it will be understood that the techniques for connecting people for real time communications can also be applied to other types of communications, such as video and other multimedia channels, chat, instant messaging, document sharing, or screen-sharing, common “whiteboarding,” interactive TV or internet TV, etc. Each of different multimedia channels can have different prices or be inclusive in one price (e.g., the use of part or all of the different channels can be included in the same price).

The real time communication may be on a one-to-one basis (e.g., one caller connected to one callee). The real time communication can also be in the form of one-to-many. For example, the seller may be hosting a conference in which multiple callers may attend. For example, 100 people can be in the same call or the same video session provided by the same seller.

Further, in one embodiment, the real time communication may include access to recorded sessions (e.g., recorded audio content and/or recorded video content).

Thus, the system on the whole may be used as a filter for sellers (callees), only letting in calls from people who are serious—they're serious because they have entered their credit card and are willing to pay. Celebrities can use the system. For example, people want to talk to the Oakland A's from the 70's, who are sitting on their porches these days. For example, Hollywood executives can use the system to hear pitches from scriptwriters who are willing to pay $1000 for the chance to pitch their script.

In one embodiment, these call buttons and the Ether phone numbers go to where the action is happening. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is recognized that not all service commerce will happen through marketplaces, such as keen.com or a search engine. People who want to talk to the Oakland A's players are more likely the visitor of the web site www.oaklandathletics.com—and that's where the call buttons can be very effective. And the Ether phone numbers can be in magazines, underneath photographs, in newspapers, on business cards, etc.

In one embodiment, the current status of the callee (e.g., availability, schedule, etc.) and guidance and instructions for the phone connection are provided through the appearance of the call button and the content of the call graphic. Alternatively or in combination, the status information, guidance and instructions can also be presented based using an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

For example, a talk radio station may have a guest on every day at a noon talk show. After the one-hour show, the radio announcer may say, “The time is up on our show. We've enjoyed talking with Dr. Webber and answering your calls. If you'd like to talk further with Dr. Webber, go to our website at WKBR.com and set up a conversation with him. Or, just dial the number 1-800-TALK-KBR and get in line. It's just $29 per 10-minute conversation.”

In this example scenario, the phone number 1-800-TALK-KBR is assigned to Dr. Webber, which can be used to achieve many of the same goals as the call button assigned to Dr. Webber. While the button can visually communicate to the user the current (e.g., real-time) availability of the callee, the price, how many people are in line already, the schedule of the callee, etc., telephony prompts on a interactive voice response (IVR) system can also be used to provide such information after the caller dials the phone number that is assigned to the callee.

For example, in one embodiment, after a caller dials the phone number 1-800-TALK-KBR, the call is connected to a server, which determines that the call is for Dr. Webber since the phone number 1-800-TALK-KBR is assigned to (associated with) Dr. Webber. The server can then determine the current status of Dr. Webber, including the availability status, the price for the package, etc., and provide the information to the caller through the IVR system. In one embodiment, the server prompts options according to the current availability status of Dr. Webber. For example, the server may offer an immediate connection when Dr. Webber is available for immediate talk, or an opportunity to input a callback time window and/or callback phone number when Dr. Webber is expected to be available in a short period of time, or an opportunity to schedule an appointment with Dr. Webber when Dr. Webber is not expected to be available in a short period of time, etc. The server may use the IVR system to inform the caller the current status of the connection process and to provide instructions to the caller to take actions, such as providing a callback time window, providing an appointment time, providing an indication to accept the price of the call package, etc.

In one embodiment, the status information, instruction and guidance are provided using a combination of graphical presentations (e.g., over a graphical user interface terminal) and voice prompts (e.g., through an IVR system).

In one embodiment, the callee (seller) charges the caller(s) for the real time communication. The system provides the service to arrange and connect the call. The system can collect the payment from the caller(s), deduct a portion of the payment as fees to provide the service, and deliver the remaining payment to the callee (seller).

Alternatively, the callers may be not required to pay for the call; and the callee (e.g., advertisers) may pay the system for the service. In this case, the system may not provide the filtering functionality based on the willingness of the callers to pay. However, the callees (e.g., the advertisers) can still enjoy other benefits from the service provided by the system, such as call scheduling (no night calls), call queuing, toll-free number, local phone number, click-to-call, etc.

In one embodiment, the call buttons and the phone numbers assigned to the callees can also be published in advertisements in marketplaces, online or offline, on behalf of the callees; the callees bid for changes of the publicity and pay the bid amount on a per call basis for calls generated by the advertisements. When the callees generate the phone lead from their own media channel, the callees are only charged for a flat fee for the service of making the connection. Thus, in one embodiment, the system tracks the media channels that lead the caller to make the call.

FIG. 15 shows a diagram of a system to assist and track connections according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 15, a database (921) may contain the phone numbers of target phone A (931), target phone B (933), . . . , target phone X (939), etc., of callees. Typically, the target phones belong to the institutions, businesses, individuals, etc, which seek for the services of embodiments of the present invention.

The call button and/or phone numbers assigned to the callees are distributed in various media channels, such as media channel A (901) (e.g., web server), media channel B (902) (e.g., WAP server), media channel C (903) (e.g., short messaging service center), media channel D (904) (e.g., custom server), media channel E (907) (e.g., cable television), media channel E (908) (e.g., news press), media channel G (909) (e.g., radio station), etc.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the call buttons and/or the assigned phone numbers, which can be considered as the encoded phone numbers of the callees, are presented in the environment specific to the callees, not in the marketplaces that are specially designed to advertise the callees. Thus, the callees generate the phone leads on their own media distributions, such as their web site or blog site.

Alternatively, or in combination, the call buttons and/or the assigned phone numbers can also be presented in marketplaces, such as in listings/directories of services, advertisements in search results, etc.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the phone numbers of the target phones are not directly publicized over the media channels. Instead, encoded target phone numbers (923) are used. Using the encoded target phone numbers (923), a user cannot reach target phones directly. Using the encoded target phone numbers (923), a user reaches a server of the system first, which allows the system to provide various services before actually connecting the user to the callee, such as filtering, payment processing, etc.

The encoded target phone numbers (923) allow the association of additional information with the target phone numbers, such as the media channels used, special promotions, etc.

The encoded target phone numbers and/or the call buttons are delivered with content information (e.g., web page, WAP page, short message, television programs, news articles, advertisement, blog, etc.) to user devices, such as user device A (911) (e.g., cellular phone), user device B (912) (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA)), user device C (913) (e.g., computer), user device D (916) (e.g., receiver), user device E (918) (e.g., newspaper).

In one embodiment, a user device can include a USB phone, a Bluetooth wireless phone, or one or more speakers or headphones with one or microphones for the implementation of a software based phone.

In one embodiment, the user devices/phones support one or more real time communication capabilities, such as VoIP using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which may support video and instant-messaging applications, IP phone, regular phone over VoIP service, Bluetooth wireless phone, USB phone, software based phone, and other forms of IP telephony.

In one embodiment, the user device can include a television set to receive the advertisement. Further, the television set may have the capability to accept user input so that the television content may be changed according to the user input (e.g., interactive television, web television, internet television, etc.), or be coupled with a set top box which has such capability. The user input may be provided to the content provider through the same communication channel in which the television content/programs are delivered (e.g., a cable system of a cable television system), or a separate channel (e.g., a phone line, an Internet connection, etc.). The user input may include a request to make a connection to an advertiser featured in an advertisement presented in a television program, such as a request for a telephonic connection to the advertiser.

In one embodiment, the user devices are mobile devices, such as PDA, cellular phone, etc. The user devices obtain content information, including advertisements, through wireless communication connections, such as cellular communication links, wireless access points for wireless local area network, etc.

In one embodiment, a user device (e.g., a cellular phone, a computer, a PDA) can receive content information from multiple types of media channels (e.g., a web server, a WAP server, an SMSC, etc.).

In one embodiment, a user device is capable of dialing a phone call (e.g., automatically according to the encoded phone number embedded in the content information when a user selects the number). Alternatively, a user may manually dial a phone call using a separate phone, such as user phone S (917) or user phone T (919).

In one embodiment, a user device (e.g., 911, 912, 193) is capable of rendering the call button and sending a message to the communication server(s) (929) when the call button is activated. The call button includes an identifier of the callee so that when the call button is activated the user devices communicates the identifier of the callee to the server(s) (929).

In one embodiment, the user device (e.g., 911) is further capable of automatically identifying a phone number of the caller, or a VoIP identifier of the caller, as a callback number. Alternatively, the user device (e.g., 911, 912, 913) is capable of communicating with the server(s) (929) to present user interfaces to receive the callback number and other parameters, such as the callback time window.

In one embodiment of the present invention, dialing at least a portion of an encoded target phone number connects the phone call to a phone decoder and router (925) first. According to the encoded target phone number dialed, the phone decoder and router (925) determines the corresponding target phone number using the database (921) and connects the phone call to the corresponding target phone (e.g., one of target phones 931-939) through the telephone network (927).

Note the telephone network (927) may be circuit switched, package switched, or partially circuit switched and partially package switched. For example, the telephone network may partially use the Internet to carry the phone call (e.g., through VoIP). For example, the connection between the user phone/device and the phone decoder and router (925) may be carried using VoIP; and the connection between the phone decoder and router (925) may be carried using a land-line based, circuit switched telephone network.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the information associated with the encoded target phone number, such as the media channel used to provide the encoded target phone number to the users, is also decoded/retrieved using the database (921). Thus, the information associated with the encoded target phone number can be tracked/stored.

In one embodiment, the phone decoder and router (925) also determines the phone number of the user through Automatic Number Identification (ANI). ANI is a phone system feature that provides the billing number of the person making the phone call.

The information about the caller, target phone number, the media channel used for delivering the contact information to the user can be used to bill the caller and/or the target phone number, and provide credit/compensation for the corresponding media channel.

For example, the connection to target phone numbers can be paid for on a pay per call basis. Monitoring and tracking the calls can be used for billing the callee and/or the caller.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the additional information associated with the encoded target phone number is used to tracking phone calls for conditional promotions, electronic coupons, etc. Alternatively, the additional information for conditional promotions, electronic coupons, etc. are retrieved from the database of the listings at the time the corresponding call button is activated or presented, or at the time the encoded phone number is called.

The information about the media channels that are responsible for leading the users to the phone calls to the target phones can also be useful for the advisers. The advisers may wish to know which media channel is more effective in reaching users.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an encoded target phone number has the same number of digits as a standard phone number (e.g., a typical telephone number assigned by a telephone company). Thus, dialing the encoded target phone number is as easy as dialing the target phone number; and dialing the target phone number reaches the phone decoder and router (925). In such an arrangement, a large number of encoded phone numbers are generally required to differentiate the different target phones and different media channels.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an encoded target phone number has more digits than a standard phone number (e.g., having an extension to the standard phone number). A first portion of the encoded target phone number has the same number of digits as a standard phone number to reach the phone decoder and router (925) through the telephone network (927); and a second portion of the encoded target phone number (e.g., the extension) is to be decoded by the phone decoder and router (925). For example, the Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) decoder can be installed in the phone decoder and router (925) to detect the second portion of the encoded target phone number dialed at the user phone. The detected phone number can then be used to recover the target phone number.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a single telephone number is used to reach the phone decoder and router (925) for different target phone numbers; and the portion of the encoded target phone number that is used to reach the phone decoder and router (925) is not used in determining the information associated with the encoded target phone number.

Alternatively, multiple telephone numbers can be used to reach the phone decoder and router (925); and the entire encoded target phone number can be used to determine the information associated with the encoded target phone number.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the encoded target phone numbers can have different numbers of digits. The callees may be arranged to bid for shorter encoded target phone numbers.

In one embodiment, a look-up table approach is used to encode the information. For example, the database (921) keeps track of the information about the media channel and the target phone number (and other information, if any) for the encoded target phone number so that the encoded target phone number can be used as a key to retrieve the corresponding information. Thus, it is not necessary to have a predetermined structure to encode the information about the media channels and the target phone number.

Alternatively, algorithms can be used to generate and encode target phone number and associated information. For example, a predetermined algorithm may be used to encode different information in the target phone number. For example, the target phone number may include a number of field separated by “*” or “#”. Each of the field can be decoded separately (e.g., from a separate look up table or a mapping algorithm) to determine the target phone number, identity of the media channel, etc.

For example, a set of parameters can be mapped from a string of characters to a string of numerical digits as a part of the encoded target phone number; and the string of numbers can be mapped back into the string of characters at the phone decoder and router (925). When such a mapping scheme is used, a look up table is not necessary. For example, an encoded target phone number may include a first portion that is the phone number of the phone decoder and router (925), a second portion that is the target phone number appended with other parameters. To prevent revealing the target phone number and the parameters, an encryption/scrambling scheme can be used to encode the second portion, which is decoded at the phone decoder and router (925).

In one embodiment, the phone decoder and router (925) determines the target phone number from the encoded target phone number dialed by the user and then dials the target phone number for the user and joins the phone calls so that the user can talk to the target phone.

In one embodiment, the communication server(s) (929) determines the target phone number from the message sent from the user devices when the call button is pressed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, users dial the encoded target phone numbers manually. A user can dial the encoded target phone number regardless the user device used and the media channel used.

Alternatively, in one embodiment, user devices can automatically dial the encoded target phone numbers. For example, a cellular phone, a computer or a PDA can dial a phone number using a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) generator. In one embodiment of the present invention, the encoded target phone numbers are presented in the content information in a format such that when the user selects the phone number the user device (e.g., a cellular phone or a computer) dials the encoded target phone number for the user. The user selection may be in the form of an keyboard/keypad input, a touch pad input, a track ball input, a mouse input, a voice command, etc.

In one embodiment, the user device initiates the phone call through a VoIP system when the user selects the encoded target phone number. Alternatively, the system initiates the VoIP connection to the user device after receiving the message from the user device requesting the phone connection.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the user device dials the phone number for the user without the user manually press the sequence of the encoded target phone numbers. This greatly simplifies the process of make the phone call. Since a user device can dial a long sequence of number easily, a large number of digits can be used to encode the information without presenting any difficulties for the users.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the encoded target phone numbers are formatted so that the user device dials a first portion of the encoded target phone numbers to access the phone decoder and router (925), pauses for a short period of time for the phone decoder and router (925) to prepare for receiving the second portion of the encoded target phone numbers, and then dials the second portion of the encoded target phone numbers. Thus, the user device provides a user-friendly way of dialing the encoded target phone numbers; and, making the phone call can be as easy as making a “click” to access a web page.

In FIG. 15, the user device initiates the phone call. Alternatively, a phone router may be used to initiate phone calls both to the user device (or a separate user phone) and the target phone and then join the phone calls to connect the user to the target phone. For example, when the user selects the call button, the encoded target phone number is transmitted to the communication server(s) (929), which can instruct the phone decoder and router (925) to initiate the phone calls.

The user phone number can be automatically determined through ANI, or through a user preference setting, or through an entry submitted with the selection of the encoded target phone number (e.g., the call button).

In one embodiment, the selection of the encoded target phone number is transmitted to the corresponding media channel, which forwards the request for making the phone call to a server (e.g., a web server) connected to the phone router. Alternatively, the content information can be formatted so that the selection is sent directly to the server that is connected to the phone router.

When the router starts the phone calls, the encoded target phone number can also include alphabetic characters (and/or other characters). The server and/or the phone router can decode the encoded target phone number to recover/retrieve the target phone number and other associated information, such as the identity of the media channel that is creditable for providing the encoded target phone number to user.

In one embodiment, the user devices/phones support one or more real time communication capabilities, such as VoIP using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which may support video and instant-messaging applications, IP phone, regular phone over VoIP service, Bluetooth wireless phone, USB phone, software based phone, and other forms of IP telephony.

Requester Queue Management

In one embodiment of the present invention, a tool is provided to allow a communicatee to manage a queue of communicators who have requested the system to establish communication links to the communicatee. The communicatee can prioritize the queue to specify the order of the communicators in which the communicatee would like to be connected to.

For example, the tool may display or play a recorded introduction of the caller to assist the callee to manage the queue. Self introductions of callers, the purposes or reasons of the calls, special notes for the calls, etc., can be collected when the system receives the requests for the telephone connections to the callee.

For example, an introduction can be collected in a call set up page that collects the callback telephone number of the caller and/or the desired time window for the callback. When the caller requests the telephone connection via calling the telephone number assigned to the callee (e.g., the Ether telephone number of the callee), the caller is connected to the system which determines the callee based on the telephone number dialed; and an introduction can be recorded via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system while the caller is connected to the system. When the introduction is collected in an audio form (e.g., via the telephone connection between the caller and the IVR system), the introduction can be converted to text through speech recognition. The text and/or the recorded the audio clip of the introduction can be presented to the callee for the management of the queue (e.g., via a visual tool, such as a web page). Similarly, an introduction collected in a text form (e.g., via a call set up page) can also be converted into an audio form through speech synthesis. The audio form of introduction can be used when the callee manages the queue via an audio channel (e.g., via a telephone connection between the callee and the system).

In one embodiment, the callee is allowed to define a measurement to rank the callers (customers) and/or the call requests. For example, the callee may rank the callers based on past experiences with the callers. The callee may rank the callers according to a total amount of past transactions with the callers, or a total amount of transactions with the callers within a specific period of time, or the durations of the previous calls from the callers, or the average durations of received calls from the callers, or accumulated durations of the received calls from the individual callers, or rank numbers specified by callee (e.g., a rank specified by the callee at the end of the previous call for a caller, or a weight averaged rank based on a number of previously specified ranks for a caller). The callee may designate one or more callers as VIP callers. The callee may further rank the call requests based on the introduction of the calls. The callee may use a combination of different factors to rank the callers and/or the call requests.

In one embodiment, the callee is allowed to see the queue of requesters (callers) with various status information, such as the call back time window, introductions/comments for the calls, statistical information about the callers (e.g., past transactions, ranks, comments by the callee, etc.). The callee can manually alter the order of callers in the queue. Thus, the callee can manage the queue based on factors determined by the system (e.g., indicators of long term value, etc.) and/or factors determined by the callees themselves (e.g., based on personal relationship, comments entered by callers, etc.). The system enables the callee to manage the queue, as well as information that are helpful in guiding the management of the queue.

FIG. 17 shows a user interface to collect comments on a request for a communication connection according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, when a call button that is assigned to the callee is selected by a caller, the user interface as illustrated in FIG. 17 is displayed (e.g., as a web page, an applet, or as a standalone application).

In FIG. 17, the user interface allows the caller to specify a time window (1001) during which the caller is available to received a call back from the system to establish the requested phone connection with the caller. The caller can specify a call back phone number (1003). Alternatively or in combination, the system may also allow the caller to specify a VoIP telephone reference (e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) address, a user name of a VoIP telephonic service, a user name of an instant messaging network, etc.) so that the system may call back to the caller via VoIP.

In FIG. 17, the user interface allows the caller to optionally specify a comment (1005) for the request. The comment can be displayed to the callee to assist the callee managing the queue. The caller may also use the comment to get the attention of the callee, to set up the context of the call, etc.

In one embodiment, a call button is assigned to the callee and arranged by the callee for presentation to potential callers. Alternatively or in combination, the call button can be presented on behalf of the callee in an advertisement, for which the callee is charged based on the telephone leads generated from the advertisement for the callee.

In one embodiment, a telephone reference (e.g., a VoIP telephone reference, or a regular telephone number with or without extension) that is assigned to the callee is used by the caller to request the system to make a telephone connection with the callee. The system determines the callee based on the telephone reference that is used to reach the system to make the request. While the caller is connected to the system via a telephone link, an IVR system can prompt the caller to specify the call back time window and/or the call back reference. The caller may provide the call back information and the comments for the call via the IVR system.

Alternatively or in combination, the system may also determine whether a connection to the caller can be made for visual communications, in additional to the audio communication link established via the telephone reference assigned to the callee. For example, when the caller is using a communication device that also supports visual communication, such as a mobile phone or a computer, the system may present a visual interface to collect the call back information (e.g., via a short text message, a web page, an instant message, etc.) When the caller is a registered member, the system may determine that the caller is logged in on a separate communication device (e.g., a personal comber) and attempt to utilize both the web link and the telephone link to communicate with the caller (e.g., to provide additional advertisement information, to collect comments and call back information, to collection both text and audio versions of comments, etc.)

FIG. 18 shows a user interface to manage a queue of requesters of phone connections to a callee according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 18, a visual presentation of the queue is provided to allow the callee to sort the list of requesters.

In one embodiment, the system identifies the callers and the presents the callers as their member names (user ID for the system) without revealing their real names for the privacy of the callers. A caller may provide a public profile to the system. The information specified in the public profile of the caller can be presented by the system to other members of the system. Thus, the caller can selectively provide information in the public profile for a desired level of privacy.

Alternatively, the system may present the callers using identifiers that are generated specifically for the callee, to avoid revealing the member names of the callers for enhanced privacy protection. For example, a caller for the callee may be identified as “caller12,” while “caller12” for another callee may or may not be a reference to this caller and is generally not a reference to the same caller.

In one embodiment, the system also provides a tool to the callee to manage callee information. For example, in FIG. 18, when an identifier (e.g., 1031) is selected by the caller, a further user interface (not shown) can be displayed to manage information about the caller as identified by the identifier. The callee may specify a name for the caller. For example, during the conversation with the caller, if the caller provides the name of the caller to the callee, the callee can record the name so that the caller can be subsequently identified using the name entered into the system by the callee. The callee may record a comment about the callee for subsequent viewing. The callee may provide a rank to the caller, load past transactions with the caller, and/or specify a status of the caller.

In one embodiment, the system identifies a first time caller to the callee as “new” (1035). The caller may designated some callers as “VIP”, some callers as “Preferred”, some callers as “Blocked”. The caller may sort the callers according to their status.

In one embodiment, the system uses a social network to identify the callers. For example, callers can be identified by whether they're a “friend” or a “friend of a friend” in a social network. For instance, a caller, Bob, might be identified as “2 degrees” away from a callee while Michael is “1 degree” away. Michael is a direct friend, whom the callee have certified as someone the callee knows, while Bob is a friend of a friend. For example, Bob might be a certified friend of Michael's. While the callee don't know Bob directly, Bob is in the extended network of the callee; and therefore the callee might want to talk to him. Cindy, on the other hand, might be “5 degrees” away. The callee might have little interest in communicating with someone so far outside the social network of the callee. In one embodiment, the system allows callees to individually certify friends, such that collectively the system maintains a social network, having data to identify friends of a friend, etc. Based on the social network, the system can compute the degrees of social separation between callers and the callee to allow the management of the caller queue using the degrees of social separation.

In one embodiment, the system also allows the callers to place bids to get priority in the queue. For example, when the caller requests the connection to the callee, the caller can also specify a bid amount for priority consideration. Thus, the order of callers in the queue can be at least partially determined by the amount that each caller is willing to pay for the priority. For instance, a first caller, Aaron, is in line. Then, a second caller, Billy, indicates he will pay a lump sum of an additional 10 cents to be in front of him. Billy is now first in line, and Aaron is second. Carol, a third caller, indicates she will pay 40 cents, and now she is first. Aaron decides to pay 20 cents and now he is in second place and Billy is in third. Thus, the queue can be dynamic changed according to a live auction for place in line. In one embodiment, the system can display a representation of the current queue to the callers to facilitate the auction of the priorities in the queue. For example, the system may inform a caller the current position of the caller and a list of current bids in the queue and allow the caller to modify his/her bid. The system may further provide estimated waiting times for the current queue to help the caller decide the bid. In one embodiment, the caller may sort the queue based on the bids for priority and other considerations, such as the comments/introductions submitted with the requests, the caller's personal relation with the callees, prior transactions, etc. For instance, a caller (advisor) could see the payments that each caller is willing to make for an earlier position in line, but the callee (advisor) may still decide to take the call from his best friend Michael first, or move his highest-spending caller Cynthia to the top position. In one embodiment, the system presents the information to facilitate the decision making by the callee in sorting the queue.

In one embodiment, the system allows a caller to specify an upper limit of the amount for the bid and automatically calculate the bid for the caller to improve the priority of the caller. For example, the system can determine the least amount of bid that can beat as many of the bids of other callers as possible without exceeding the upper limit.

In one embodiment, the bid for priority is charged as a lump sum once the connection between the caller and the callee is established. Alternatively or in combination, the bids can be in the form of additional price per minute for the communication time with the callee, if the callee delivers service to the caller over the communication connection. For example, the callee may specify that the communication time with the callee is at least at a given price (e.g., $1.5 per minute). A caller may bid above the price (e.g., additional $0.2 per minute) to seek for priority. In one embodiment, the callee may specify the allowable bid formats (e.g., as a lump sum for priority or as additional fees per minute for priority in the queue). When different forms of bids are allowed, the system can further compute an estimated effective bid (e.g., based on an estimated communication time) to assist the callee.

In one embodiment, a plurality of callers are in a group call with a callee (e.g., in a teleconference). The callers have listening-only privileges. The callers may request the privilege to be connected for speaking privileges also. A limited number of callers (e.g., one or two or more) may be granted the speaking privileges. A queue requesting the speaking privileges can be maintained.

For example, in a group call, there are a number of callers on the line all listening to a lecture given by the advisor. The callers may be paying a rate to be on the call, or not. In this case, the queuing criteria determine which of the callees get to have speaking privileges in addition to the listening privileges. For the speaking privileges, the callers may be identified and sorted according to various ways discussed, such as based on a best-customer criterion, a best-friend customer criterion, a highest-paying customer criterion, etc.

In another example, while a TV or radio show is in progress, fans may listen and/or watch the show and want to be able to ask a live question and contribute to the show. The fans can request the connection (e.g., for the speaking privilege) via one embodiment of the system. The connection may be provided via a microphone, a telephone, or a videophone. The queue of requests may be sorted according to one or more criteria, such as the introduction/comment presented for the corresponding request, the bids for priority, the geographic location of the requesters, past experiences with the requesters, etc. Such a system can allow mass audience participation.

Alternatively or in combination, the caller may sort the queue manually via the interface as show in FIG. 18. For example, the caller may select the icon (1045) to increase the priority of the caller (1031), select the icon (1047) to decrease the priority of the caller (1031), select the icon (1041) to assign top priority to the caller (1031), select the icon (1043) to assign bottom priority to the caller (1031) (e.g., move the caller to the bottom position in the list of non-blocked callers).

In one embodiment, the user can selectively show or hide the callers with the blocked status. For example, in FIG. 18 the blocked callers are listed; and the link (1049) can be selected to request a list that does not show the blocked callers, together with a link that can be used to request a list that shows the blocked callers.

In FIG. 18, the remaining call back windows as requested by the callers are also displayed, together with the amount of past purchases (e.g., 1037) from the respective callers, comments (e.g., 1039) from the callers for the respective requests, etc. The remaining call back window indicates the time period between the time the list is generated and the time when the requested call back window expires. The information specific to the callers and/or the requests are provided to assist the callee in managing the caller queue. More or less information can be displayed with the queue in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the items to be displayed with the queue is configurable by the caller (e.g., via a preference page).

The interface as illustrated in FIG. 18 can be used by the callee to manage the caller queue via a web connection or other types of data communication connection, using a web browser or a custom application.

In one embodiment, the callee can also manage a caller queue via an IVR system over a telephone connection. For example, when the callee is connected to the system via a telephone connection, the callee is presented with the caller queue. The callee can selectively reorder the queue, or select one from the queue for connection to the selected caller. In one embodiment, the system priorities the queue according to a set of rules specified by the callee and presents a number of top ranking callers for selection by the caller.

FIG. 19 shows a method to manage a queue of requesters of real time communication connections to a communicatee according to one embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of requests for real time communication connections to a communicatee is presented (1101) to the communicatee. The requests are received from a plurality of communicators. In one embodiment, the real time communication connections are telephone connections for real time voice conversation. Alternatively or in combination, the real time communication connections may also facilitate the real time transmission of audio, video, image, text, multi-media message, etc.

In one embodiment, the real time communication connections are requested to obtain services for a fee from the communicatee via the connections, such as obtaining advice or entertainment. Alternatively or in combination, the real time communication connections are requested as responses to advertisements presented on behalf of the communicatee; and the communicatee is charged based on a number of real time communication leads generated from the advertisements. As an advertiser, the communicatee may further specify a price bid per lead generated from the advertisement.

In one embodiment, the requests are prioritized (1103) according to an input from the communicatee; and a real time communication connection to the communicatee is established (1105) according to the prioritizing of the requests. For example, the communicatee may specify a rule to sort the requests, or manually sort the list, or select one as the top ranked requests. For example, the communicatee may explicitly request the connection for a request selected from the list; alternatively, the sorted list is submitted to the server, which implicitly initiate the connection from the top of the list when a condition to initiate is satisfied (e.g., when the communicatee indicates the real time availability to take a connection).

FIG. 20 shows a method to connect a callee with one of callers according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 20, requests for telephone connections to a callee are received (1201) (e.g., via a phone number or a hyperlink assigned to the callee). It is then determined (1203) whether there is a web connection to the callee.

If it is determined that there is no a web connection to the callee, a telephone connection to the callee is made (1205) to interact (1207) with the callee via an IVR system, which can read out (1209) a list of the received requests to the callee. Input from the callee is received to adjust (1213) an order of the requests and/or select (1215) a request from the list. A requester of the selected request is then called back (1217) to make a connection between the requester and the callee.

If it is determined that there is a web connection to the callee (or other connections that allows visual communication to the callee), a web interface (or other types of visual interface) to the callee is provided (1221) to show a list of the received requests with available information about the callers. The system interacts (1223) with the callee via the web interface to sort the list.

It is then determined whether a callee's selection to initiate a connection is received (1225). If the callee explicitly selects one from the list to initiate a connection, a telephone connection process is initiated (1227) to connect the callee and the caller corresponding to the selection; otherwise, the system determines (1231) whether it is an appropriate time to call the callee. When it is an appropriate time to call the callee, a caller (1233) is selected from the sorted list by the system (e.g., the top ranking request of the list); and a telephone connection process is initiated (1227) to connect the callee and the caller corresponding to the selection.

In one embodiment, a system can connect communicators to communicatees for real time communication via communication references assigned to the communicatees. The communicators can request the system to establish communication links to the communicatees through contacting the system via the communication references. The system identifies the communicatees based on the communication references the communicatees used to make the requests. The system can provide various communication links, such as telephone, video, text, web, WAP, Short Message Service (SMS) message, Multimedia Message Service (MMS) message, web television, instant message, document sharing, screen sharing, and common whiteboarding.

In one embodiment, a method includes presenting to a communicatee a plurality of requests for real time communication connections to the communicatee, where the requests are received from a plurality of communicators; prioritizing the requests according to an input from the communicatee (e.g., an input to change a priority of a selected one of the requests, an input to selectively alter an order of the requests, an input to assign a status to one of the communicators, etc.); and establishing a real time communication connection to the communicatee according to the prioritizing of the requests.

In one embodiment, the requests are presented without revealing communication references (e.g., telephone numbers) of the plurality of communicators. Further, the real time communication connection to the communicatee can be established via a telephonic call to a telephone number of the communicatee by the system; and the plurality of communicators can make the plurality of requests without the telephone number of the communicatee.

In one embodiment, establishing the real time communication connection includes: calling back a selected one of the plurality of communicators; and calling the telephone number of the communicatee.

In one embodiment, a self introduction received from one of the plurality of communicators for a corresponding request of the requests is presented. In one embodiment, one request of the plurality of requests is received together with a comment associated with the request; and the comment is presented with the request. The comment may be converted from a text format to an audio format, or from an audio format to a text format, for presentation with the request.

In one embodiment, one request of the plurality of requests is received via a real time communication connection (e.g., a telephone connection) to a server together with an introduction for the request; and the server is to further connect the real time communication connection to the communicatee.

Optionally, a plurality of time periods within which the plurality of requests are valid and/or one or more status indicators can be presented with the requests. In one embodiment, the requests are presented via a connection that is separate from a real time communication connection used to connect the communicatee and one of the communicators.

In one embodiment, a voice comment on one request of the requests is received; and speech recognition is performed to generate a text form of the comment which is presented with the corresponding request.

In one embodiment, the requests are presented via a real time communication connection to the communicatee, which connection is to be further connected to one of the communicators according to the requests.

In one embodiment, a system is provided to enable customers to advance ahead of other waiting customers and receive services (e.g., from a particular information or service provider) ahead of those who are not willing to pay as much for the priority in the queue and/or for the services. For example, the system may provide a real-time communication connection between an information/service provider and a customer using a communication network, such as a telephone network, a computer network, and/or a wireless communication network, etc. The customer pays for the service of the information/service provider based on a duration of the communication connection provided by the system; and the system determines the order of the waiting customers based on their price bids on the queuing priority.

In one embodiment, a web site is provided to allow a user to monitor his or her relative position and progress in the waiting queue as well as bid to advance his or her relative position in the queue. In another embodiment, a system establishes a telephone connection over which the user is notified of his or her relative position in the queue and can submit bids to advance in the queue. Alternatively, the position information and bid for queuing priority can be transmitted via other communication media, such as short message service (SMS), instant messaging (IM), email, or via a custom application program using a custom communication protocol. Other communication networks, such as a satellite network, a direct TV network, a wireless communication network, an interactive television network, etc. can also be used for the presentation of the queue and/or receive price bids for queuing priority.

In one embodiment, customers and service providers register with the system; and customers can purchase services or information offered by the service providers through the system. During registration, the customers and the service providers may be requested to submit certain information, such as a username and password. Customers may be requested to submit credit card or other financial information. Service providers may or may not be requested to submit credit card or other financial information. The data collected in the registration process is stored in the database (e.g., in an account set up for the service provider and in an account set up for the customer).

In one embodiment, customers can request for a communication connection with a communicatee via a connection system. When a customer make a request for a communication connection with the communicatee, the communicatee may not be immediately available. Further, other customers may also be waiting for an opportunity to connect to the communicatee. The requests from the customers are queued and fulfilled sequentially, one after another. Since the time durations for which the customers would be connected with the communicatee are generally unknown a priori, the time when a customer can be connected to the communicatee is generally estimated with unknown accuracy.

In one embodiment, when there are multiple waiting requests, a queue is organized by the system. The waiting requests are assigned different positions in the queue.

In one embodiment, the queue is organized in the order of the reception time of the requests if some or all of the requests promise to pay the service provider the same price. If a customer offers to pay a higher price (e.g., in terms of a rate on a per minute basis for the communication time with the service provider) than other waiting customers, the position of the customer can be moved ahead of other waiting customers who do not offer to pay as much.

For example, when a request to establish a real-time communication with a communicatee connection is received from a customer, that customer is initially assigned a position at the end of the queue. It may be assumed that the customer will initially offer a price equal to the service provider's published rate. In some embodiments, the customer may offer a different price along with the request to connect with the service provider.

In one embodiment, the customer is presented with a queuing page, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 21. The queuing page (1300) displays an acknowledgment message (1310), thanking the customer for selecting to call the service provider and informing the customer with what position in the queue the customer has been associated. The queuing page (1300) may include a graphical representation of the customer's position (1321) in the queue (1320) and display a price (1330) offered by the other customers to receive services from the selected service provider.

As shown in FIG. 21, each customer is offering the same price, in this case a price equal to the service provider's published rate. In other words, none of the queuing customers yet have bid to advance ahead of another in the queue. This need not always be the case when a customer first joins the queue, or is first assigned a position in the queue. In some cases, when a customer first joins the queue, a plurality of prices may be offered by those already in the queue. In such cases, the queue is organized primarily in the order of descending price and secondarily in the order of reception time of the requests. For customers offering the same price, each customer is assigned a position in order of when the request to connect was received from that customer.

As mentioned above, when a customer first joins the queue, the customer ordinarily is assumed to offer a price equal to the service provider's published price and is assigned a position at the end of the queue. In some embodiments, however, where the customer offers a different price before or as he or she joins the queue, the customer is assigned a position in the queue according to how much the customer is offering relative to the price or prices currently being offered by the already queuing customers.

In addition to informing the customer of his or her position in the queue and the price or prices being offered by other customers waiting to communicate with the information service provider, a system of the present invention is configured to receive a bid from the customer. In one embodiment, and as shown as part of the queuing page depicted in FIG. 21, the customer is informed of (1340) the opportunity to move his or her position ahead in line and provides a bid (1350) for the customer to accept. The bid typically is higher than the prices being offered by each of the other customers, but may be higher than only one or some of the prices being offered by the other customers.

Also, instead of providing a bid and prompting the customer to accept the bid, the system may be configured to allow the customer to enter a bid of his or her own choosing.

Once the system has received a bid, the bid is compared with the prices being offered by the other customers. If the bid is higher than at least one of the prices, the customer is advanced ahead of those customers whose price is lower than the bid. In one embodiment, the system updates the queuing page, as shown in FIG. 22. The queuing page (1400) shown in FIG. 22 includes an acknowledgment message (1410), thanking the customer for the bid and informing the customer of his or her new position in the queue. The queuing page (1400) additionally, or alternatively, includes a graphical depiction of the queue (1420) and of the customer's current position at the head of the queue (1421), as well as the prices currently being offered by each of the customers in the queue (1430).

The system can relay the bidding and queuing activity in real-time to each of the customers waiting in the queue. Thus, a second bid may subsequently received from a second customer and advance the second customer ahead of the previous customer. Each time a bid is received, the system reorganizes the queue in descending order of the current prices being offered and, for customers offering the same price, in order of when the request to connect with the service provider was received. The customers waiting in the queue are then informed of their current positions.

In one embodiment, after a bid is received, the queuing page (1500) is updated with information (1510) about the customer's current position in the queue as shown in FIG. 23. This information may additionally or alternatively be presented to the customer in a graphical depiction of the queue (1520) showing the second customer at the head of the line (1522), the second customer's position having been advanced ahead of the previous customer (1521). The updated queuing page (1500) also shows the prices currently being offered by each of the customers in the queue (1530). The system offers the customer a chance to advance again by submitting a still higher bid (1550).

In this example, when a still higher bid is received by the controller computer, the queuing page is again updated, as shown in FIG. 24. The newly updated queuing page (1600) shows the customer that was associated previously with the no. 2 position in the queue (see FIG. 23) now occupying a position at the head of the queue (1621), having been advanced ahead of the second customer (1622) as a result of submitting a higher bid.

This bidding process may continue as described above, with customers offering higher bids and advancing ahead of one another as a result. When the service provider becomes available to provide services to the next customer, the system will establish a real-time communications connection between the customer associated with the no. 1 position in the queue at that time. The real-time communications connection may be established over a telephone network, a computer network, satellite network, wireless communications network, direct TV network, or other type of communications network, and may include an audio connection, video connection, or other type of voice or data connection. The customer in the no. 1 position at the time the service provider becomes available, in effect, has won the time auction by offering to pay the highest price to receive the service provider's services ahead of all other customers in the queue. The customer is billed at the highest bid price for the services received from the service provider.

In one embodiment, when the service provider becomes available to help the next customer, a web page, such as the one depicted in FIG. 4, is presented to the customer who is at the head of the queue. The web page (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 4) informs the customer in the no. 1 position in the queue that the real-time communication connection is in the process of being established and may, optionally, further provide instructions to establish the communication connection.

Among the customers still waiting in the queue when the next customer has been connected with the service provider, the bidding process may continue. In one embodiment, the system updates the queuing page when the customer in the no. 1 position has been connected to the service provider, and presents the updated queuing page to those customers still waiting. The customer that was in the no. 2 position is now shown in the no. 1 position, and that customer's bid is now the highest bid currently being offered. If no other bids are received, that customer will be next to communicate with the service provider. Other customers in the queue may bid a higher amount, as described above, to advance to the no. 1 position. Alternatively, other customers may bid an amount higher than at least one other waiting customer to advance ahead of at least that one other customer, though not necessarily to the no. 1 position.

For example, a service provider named Wendy, an astrologer, provides astrological predictions for her customers at 99 cents per minute through a service-marketplace web site. Customers who wish to speak with her click on an Ether button on the web site of Wendy to request a telephone connection between the customer and Wendy. The call is billed to the customer at 99 cents per minute for the duration of the call. Wendy's business volume is moderate most of the time, but whenever there is a tumultuous news story, such as an earthquake or plane crash, her volume increases dramatically as customers flood to her services.

Wendy is currently on the phone with a customer, yet other customers, including one named Dan, wish to speak with her as well. These customers, Dan included, are therefore placed into a queue. On the web page Dan can see that he is no. 11 in the queue. The web site also gives Dan the opportunity to improve his position in the queue by offering to pay her a rate higher than 99 cents per minute.

Dan offers to pay Wendy a rate $1.09 per minute. This is a higher rate than the 99 cents per minute that the rest of the customers are prepared to pay. Therefore, Dan's position in the queue moves from no. 11 to no. 1, and he is next in line to speak to Wendy.

Subsequently, another customer in the queue, named Albert, offers to pay Wendy a rate of $1.19 per minute. Albert's position in the queue therefore moves to the no. 1 position, since it is higher than the $1.09 rate that Dan is willing to pay. Dan therefore moves to the No. 2 position.

Dan, however, is intent to speak to Wendy now. He therefore bids a still-higher rate, $1.29 per minute. Since this is higher than the $1.19 rate that Albert is willing to pay, Dan moves back into the no. 1 position in the queue. Albert moves to the no. 2 spot. Albert is unwilling to raise his bid above Dan's and therefore remains in the No. 2 position.

Dan, holding the no. 1 position in the queue, has effectively won the “time auction” when Wendy is ready to take the next customer. Wendy finishes her conversation with the current customer she was helping and is connected to the no. 1 person in the queue, who is Dan. For the duration of the call, Dan is billed at the rate he specified, $1.29 per minute, which is collected by the system on behalf of Wendy. In one embodiment, the system deducts a fee from the amount collected from Dan for the service rendered by the system. The deducted fee may be a fixed amount per phone call, or a percentage of the amount collected.

Through this time auction, Wendy maximizes the rate she can collect from her customers at any given moment; and Dan can reduce the amount of time spent waiting on line by paying a higher rate.

In one embodiment, requesters can place price bids on the queuing priority. The queue is organized in the order of the reception time of the requests if there are no price bids on the queuing priority or if a number of requests have the same price bid. The price bids on the queuing priority may or may not be directly related to the price the customer pays for the service.

For example, a customer may place a lump sum bid for priority, separately from the rate for communication time with the communicatee. The lump sum is to be paid for prioritizing the position of the customer in the queue; and the customer pays the per-minute rate specified by the communicatee, or pays another lump sum to purchase a communication package for a pre-determined amount of communication time with the communicate. Alternatively, the customer may decide not to continue on a fee basis after an initial free consultation; and thus the customer only pays the price bid for the queuing priority.

In one embodiment, the price bid for priority in the queue is charged when the request is ready for being processed. For example, when the communicatee is ready to accept a communication connection with the next customer, even if the customer decides not to purchase (e.g., a communication package for a pre-determined amount of communication time, or communication time paid on an ongoing basis based on a pre-determined rate) when both the customer and communicatee are on the line.

In one embodiment, the price bid charged for queuing priority is primarily charged on behalf of the service provider who provides the service over the communication link provided by the system. A portion of the fee may be retained by the system for the service rendered by the system. Alternatively, the price bid charged is retained by the connection system. Alternatively or in combination, at least a portion of the price bid charged may be used to compensate other requesters (e.g., as a discount) who are pushed behind in the line because the price bid increases the priority of the requester. For example, these requesters may receive a discount when their requests are processed.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example in which a requester can place a price bid (1703) specifically for the queuing priority using the user interface (1700). The user interface shows the current queue status and the priority bids (1701) of requesters who are currently in the queue. In FIG. 25, if the requester submits the price bid (1703), the requester's position can be moved from no. 11 to no. 1 in the queue.

In one embodiment, a requester can enter a price bid in the entry box (1703), which does not have to be larger than the largest bid that is currently in the queue. Alternatively, the system may suggest a price bid which can be accepted by the requester but cannot be altered by the requester.

In one embodiment, a requester may decrease the current bid of the requester. Alternatively, the system may not allow the user to decrease an already placed bid for queuing priority.

In one embodiment, the system may restrict the frequency of bid changes from a requester. For example, the system may not accept a subsequent bid if the position of the requester has not been affected by a price bid from another. For example, the system may not accept a subsequent bid if a pre-determined waiting period since the previous bid has not yet expired. Alternatively, the system may impose no limitations on the bidding process; and customers may change the bids as frequently as they wish.

In one embodiment, a user may specify a maximum bid the user is willing to pay; and the system determines the lowest actual bid based on competitors' bids to obtain the best possible position in the queue without exceeding the maximum bid specified by the user.

For example, in FIG. 26, the requester may place a maximum bid (1713) (e.g., $10) for the queuing priority. If the requester submits the maximum bid in the user interface (1710), the position of the requester would be changed from no. 11 to no. 1, according to the set of priority bids (1711) shown in the user interface (1710). Since the next highest bid is $3, the actual bid of the requester would be one increment above the $3 (e.g., $4 or $3.1, or $3.01, depending on the predetermined size of increment), if the requester entered the line after the competitor; otherwise, the actual bid of the requester would be $3.

In response to the $10 maximum bid from the requester, if the competitor raises the bid from $3 to $10 and the competitors (other requesters) entered the line earlier than the requester, the requester would be in the no. 2 position and the actual bid of requester would be one increment above the $2 of the next highest bid (e.g., $3 or $2.05, or $2.01, depending on the pre-determined size of increment).

In response to the $10 maximum bid from the requester, if the competitor raises the bid from $3 to $10 and the competitor entered the line after the requester, the requester would be in the no. 1 position and the actual bid of requester would be $10.

In one embodiment, the maximum bid is a lump sum to be paid when the system starts to process the request, or when the request is ready to be fulfilled (e.g., when both the requester and the adviser are on the line with the connection provider and ready to be connected to each other). Alternatively, the maximum bid may be a price per minute that the requester offers to pay the service provider (e.g., callee or advertiser). Alternatively, the maximum bid may be a price on a package offered by the service provider.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 27, the estimated waiting periods (1721) for the requesters waiting in the line are estimated and presented in the user interface (1720) together with the bids for queuing priority. The user may determine an appropriate bid for queuing priority, based on the estimated waiting time, to balance the lump sum to be paid for the priority and the length of the waiting period. The waiting time periods may be determined based on the communication packages that would be purchased by the requesters, the remaining time periods in the already purchased packages, time periods as requested by requesters, the statistical data about calling activities for average callers and/or for the requesters waiting in the line, etc.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 28, the same time period for real time communication is offered to the requesters. In the user interface (1730), the seller offers the next available session (e.g., 20 minutes) for the lump sum (e.g., $50). A requester may or may not use the entire session (e.g., 20 minutes) as being offered; however, the session (e.g., 20 minutes) is offered as a package for a lump sum (e.g., $50), regardless of the actual time a requester would use (if the time used is less than the offered time period). In one embodiment, when the offered session is expired, the caller may continue the communication connection on a per-minute basis, or purchase another session (e.g., 10 minutes), or continue without a charge for a period of time (e.g., for as long as the service requester would allow, or for up to a pre-determined period of time specified by the connection provider). A requester may place a maximum bid (1733) for the queuing priority, or an exact bid (not shown in FIG. 28) for the queuing priority.

In FIG. 28, the bid for priority is separate from the price for the communication package (e.g., 20 minutes for $50). The price bid for priority will be charged when it is the requester's turn, regardless whether the requester would actually accept the charge for the communication package. In one embodiment, when it is the requester's turn, the requester will be further asked to confirm the purchase of the communication session (e.g., 20 minutes for $50); if the requester declines to purchase the communication session, the requester would be still charged the fee according to the bid for queuing priority.

Alternatively, the bid for priority can be combined with the price for the communication package; and the price bid for priority and the price for the package are charged together when the requester accepts the charge for the offer from the service provider. For example, the maximum bid of $10 for queuing priority can be considered as equivalent to a maximum bid of $60 for the 20 minutes and queuing priority.

In one embodiment, information on the source of payment (e.g., a credit card of the requester, or a user account of the requester) is obtained and/or verified at least for the bid for queuing priority, before the requester is placed into the line or before the requester is allowed to bid.

In one embodiment, the starting point of the pre-determined time period offered by the callee is not pre-determined. For example, the next session of the pre-determined time period may start as soon as the callee finishes with the current caller, or as soon as the callee indicates that that the callee is ready for the next caller. In such an embodiment, the requesters generally do not know a priori when the auction for the next available opportunity would end.

Alternatively, the next session may be scheduled to start at a pre-determined time instant; and thus, the requesters know when the auction for the next available opportunity ends. For example, in one embodiment, when the callee is available to take the next caller, the system can schedule a pre-defined end time of the auction of the opportunity.

In one embodiment, the requesters may request a specific communication period, based on which estimated waiting periods can be determined. For example, the user interface (1740) in FIG. 29 allows the user to specify or modify the requested time period (1745). In one embodiment, the price for the requested time period (1745) would be charged as a lump sum, even if the requester does not use up all of the requested time period (1745). When the requested time is used up, the requester may continue for free, or continue on a per-minute basis, or purchase another session, or be placed back into the line for the auction of the next available opportunity.

For example, in one embodiment, when the pre-purchased time session is about to end, the caller can be placed back into the line with a further opportunity to place a bid to continue conversation without interruption. This caller can be accorded the earliest time the caller entered into the line and thus have the priority over other callers in case the caller has the same priority bid as the other callers.

In one embodiment, the caller is provided a bid discount for the line if the caller is returning back to the line. For example, when the caller is provided with a $3.00 bid discount, a $1.00 bid from the caller would be equivalent to a $4.00 bid from others. In one embodiment, the bid discount is specified by the callee and/or the system to encourage continuity. In one embodiment, the bid discount is computed by the system based on the current set of bids for the requests waiting in the line. For example, the bid discount may be the average bid of the set of bids waiting in the line.

In one embodiment, if the current caller wishes to continue the conversation, the caller can be offered the opportunity to beat the highest bidder in the queue before the auction closes. For example, before disconnecting the caller, the caller may be informed of the current highest bidder and/or a bid discount offered to continue the conversation. For example, the bid discount can be a predetermined percentage of the highest bid in the line; if the caller chooses to beat the competitor's bid, the system can automatically determine the amount the caller needs to pay for continuing the conversation.

In one embodiment, the requested time period (1745) is a provided as an estimated time that the requester would need for the connection; and the requester is charged for the actual amount of time used, or be charged based on purchasing a package of a predetermined amount of communication time offered by the callee. In some instances, the requester may not be charged again since the requester is returning to continue a previously purchased package.

In one embodiment, the system can estimate the time a requester may need based on the requested time period to be purchased by the requester, the remaining time of a previously purchased package, a package (e.g., a session of a pre-determine time period) offered by the seller, a package requested by the buyer, etc.

In one embodiment, the actual order of the queue may not be determined solely based on the bids. For example, the actual order may be adjusted by the callee using the queue management tool presented to the callee (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 18). For example, the callee may increase the priority of a request based on the introduction/comment associated with the request, or an assigned status of the caller.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 30, the price bids of the competitors of a requester (other waiting requesters) are not displayed. In FIG. 30, the estimated time periods for the requests waiting in the line are presented. The requester may optionally place a bid to influence the decision making of the system. However, the requester would not be able to predict a position based on the price bid, since the callee may accord a high priority to a VIP customer even if the VIP customer does not provide a price bid for priority. However, when the price bid is sufficiently high, the requester generally has a good chance of getting a high priority.

In one embodiment, a callee can assign bid discounts to customers based on there status (e.g., new customers, VIP customers, etc.), introduction/comment associated with the request, etc. The bid discounts can be of fixed amounts, a percentage of the customer's bid, a percentage of the highest bid in the queue, etc. In one embodiment, the bid discounts are added to the bids placed by the requesters and used to sort the queue of requests. In one embodiment, the bids adjusted by the discounts are displayed.

In FIG. 30, the price bid (1751) is in terms of fees paid for each minute of communication, in addition to the price (1753) that is specified by the callee. These two prices can be combined as one (e.g., the sum of bid 1751 and rate 1753). Alternatively, the two can be separate, because the ways how the fees charged for the priority are distributed and how the fees charged for the service rendered are distributed can be different. For example, the connection system may get a first percentage of the fees charged based on the price (1753) and a second percentage of the fees charged based on the bid (1751) for priority.

Alternatively, a price bid for priority may be independent from the time during of the communication connection. For example, the price bid may be a lump sum to be paid in response to the processing of the request of the requester.

In one embodiment, a requester can place separate bids on the service provided and the queuing priority. The price bids and other information offered by the requester, such as an introduction or comment on the request, an estimated request time or a requested communication time duration, etc. can be presented to the callee who may manually adjust the priority based on the presented information.

FIG. 31 illustrates a method to prioritize a waiting queue according to one embodiment. In FIG. 31, one or more price bids on queuing priority are received (1801); and an order of a plurality of pending requests is determined (1803) based on at least the one or more price bids. In one embodiment, in response to a request being selected for processing, a priority fee is charged based on a price bid on the queuing priority for the request.

In one embodiment, the order is further based on reception times of a subset of the requests when the subset has a same price bid on queuing priority, or when the subset has no price bid on queuing priority. In one embodiment, the pending requests are to be process sequentially according to the order. In one embodiment, the one or more price bids are determined during a pendency of corresponding requests.

In one embodiment, the requests include requests for a communication connection with a communicatee; and in response to an opportunity to make a communication connection with the communicatee: a communication connection with a requester is initiated to establish a communication connection between the requester and the communicatee; the requester is charged a priority fee based on a price bid of the requester for the queuing priority; and the requester is charged a service fee specified by the communicatee. The service fee may be based on a time duration of the communication connection between the requester and the communicatee, or based on a package purchased by the requester which allows the requester to have the communication connection between the requester and the communicatee for up to a time period specified by the package.

In one embodiment, a waiting period for the opportunity is estimated and presented in an interface to receive a price bid on the queuing priority for one of the plurality of requests. For example, a plurality of waiting periods for the plurality of requests can be estimated respectively; and the estimated waiting periods are presented in an interface to receive a price bid on the queuing priority for one of the plurality of requests. In one embodiment, the plurality of waiting periods are estimated based on communication times requested by the requests.

In one embodiment, the priority fee is determined based on a price bid of a next requester determined according to the order. For example, the priority fee can be determined as one increment above the price bid of the next requester.

In one embodiment, the communication connection includes a phone connection which may be at least partially over a packet switched network.

In one embodiment, the requests are for a communication connection with a communicates for a pre-determined time slot. In one embodiment, the length of the time slot is pre-determined; and the time when the time slot is available is not pre-determined.

In one embodiment, the systems and methods of prioritizing a waiting queue can be used with the queuing of requests for real time communication connections. The requests may be received via an Ether button, or an Ether phone number. However, it should be noted the disclosure can also be applied to other systems in which user requests are queued for process in sequence.

A system according to the present invention may provide all or some of the above queuing and time auction features using other communications means, such as via e-mail, or over a telephone network, a computer network, a satellite network, a wireless communications network, a direct TV network, etc. For example, the customer may be informed over a telephone connection of his current position in the queue and of a price being offered by other customers in the queue. Additionally, the system may receive a bid over the telephone connection via the telephone keypad or with voice-recognition software. Similarly, a time-auctioning method of the present invention is not limited to the systems described above and may be implemented using other communications means.

In one embodiment, requests for the privilege to speak are prioritized and granted based at least in part on the bids for the privilege to speak. The requesters are charged an amount according to the bids responsive to the privilege to speak being granted to the requesters.

In one embodiment, the bids for the privilege to speak are lump sums that are charged for the privilege to speak at an available opportunity; and the amount charged is independent on the length of the time period for which the privilege to speak is granted. Alternatively or in combination, the bids can be in the form of a rate (e.g., a price per minute for the time duration of the granted privilege to speak); and when the requester surrounds the granted privilege, the granted privilege is revoked, the requester is charged an amount based on the length of the time period of the granted privilege to speak and the bid of the requester.

In one embodiment, the privilege to speak has a pre-determined time duration; and when the pre-determined time duration expires, the granted privilege to speak is revoked. Thus, the requesters bid for the opportunity to speak in a time slot of a pre-determined length (e.g., 5 minutes).

In one embodiment, the techniques to prioritize requests for a queue are used to prioritize the requests for the privilege to speak. The queue of requests for the privilege to speak may or may not be presented to the requesters.

In one embodiment, the availability of the next opportunity to speak may not be known a priori. The auction of the privilege to speak is conducted to anticipate a coming opportunity to speak. The actual time of the opportunity may not be known a priori. In one embodiment, the auction is closed when the opportunity to speak appears. Such an arrangement reduces or eliminates the time gap for the selection of a speaker.

Alternatively or in combination, the auction may be performed for a scheduled opportunity to speak. For example, when an opportunity to speak is available, a short period of auction of the privilege to speak (e.g., 1 minute) can be conducted. For example, the auction may start before the opportunity to speak appears; and after the opportunity to speak appears, a closing time of the auction is scheduled and announced.

In one embodiment, a queue of requests for privilege to speak is maintained and prioritized based at least in part on the bids submitted by the requesters. When an opportunity to speak is available, the top one or more requesters in the queue are selected and granted the privilege to speak, which effectively closes the auction upon the availability of the opportunity; and the queue is then maintained for the next opportunity.

In one embodiment, the requesters can at least listen to the communication session while requesting the privilege to speak in the communication session. For example, the queue of requesters can listen and/or view the communications via a broadcasting system, such as a radio broadcasting system, a television broadcasting system, a teleconference, etc. One or more selected participants in the audience can be granted the privilege to speak, while the other participants are denied the privilege to speak.

FIG. 32 illustrates a method to manage the privilege to speak in a communication session according to one embodiment. In FIG. 32, the content (1909) of the communication session is provided to an audience (1905) via a broadcasting system (1903). A typical user in the audience (1905) can receive the broadcast (1903) but does not have the speaking privilege in the broadcast (1903). For example, the content (1909) may include a pre-recorded radio or television program, or an audio/video message to be delivered in a phone conference. For example, the content (1909) may include the audio/video signals captured from a live scene or a host of a phone conference.

In FIG. 32, the connection provider (1901) allows the users (e.g., 1911, . . . , 1915, . . . , 1919) in the audience the opportunities to provide information and actively participate in the communication session. For example, with the privilege to speak, the selected users can provide comments and/or suggestions, raise questions, and participate in the live discussion in the communication session, etc.

In FIG. 32, the connection provider (1901) is connected to the users (e.g., 1915, 1919) of the audience (1905) to receive information, such as voice, text, and/or video input via phone connections, instant messaging connections, etc. The users can place bids for the privilege to speak; and the winner selected (1907) is further connected to the communication session such that the information received from the winner can be merged with the content (1909), used to alter the content (1909) or to replace certain segments of the content (1909). For example, the comments, suggestions or questions received from the winner may be mixed with the current stream of programming which is broadcast to the audience (1905). For example, the comments, suggestions or questions may be presented to the host, but not to the audience (1905), to obtain the response of the host, etc.

In one embodiment, the broadcast (1903) is provided via a system separate from the connections between the connection provider (1907) and the users (e.g., 1915, . . . , 1919). The users can used the connections to request, bid for and exercise the privilege to speak. For example, the communication session can be broadcast via a radio or television system; and the users are connected to the connection provider (1901) to via phone connections (e.g., via a circuit switched network and/or a packet switched network), via instant messaging connections, and/or data connections.

In one embodiment, the connections for uploading information from the users are established after the winner(s) is selected. For example, the users may place bids via a web page, which may also allow the users to specify the callback numbers; the connection provider calls back the winner(s) to establish the phone connection(s), via which the users can provide voice, text and/or video information for the participation in the communication session. For example, the connection provider may provide a click-to-call button to the winner to initiate the call via VoIP, or request a call back.

Alternatively, the connections are established prior to the selection of the winner(s). For example, the users may call the connection providers to place bids via the phone connections; and the selected user who is granted the privilege to speak is further bridged into the communication session.

In one embodiment, a click-to-call button can be used to initiate a request for the speak privilege; and instructions are provided (e.g., in a call graphic) to guide the user through the process of making a connection, including placing a bid for the privilege to speak; and the connection is established when the user is selected for the opportunity to speak (e.g., to raise a question, provide a comment, etc.) In one embodiment, the click-to-call button is used to make a call for a connection for real time communications (e.g., a connection for instant messaging session, a connection for voice communication, etc).

In one embodiment, the connection provider (1901) receives information from the user in one format (e.g., text, or voice) and convert the information into another format (e.g., voice, or text) for mixing with the content (1909).

In one embodiment, the users make requests for the connections for real time communications (e.g., phone connections or instant messaging connections) via a web page (or via email, SMS, or a call button which may use a standard or custom communication protocol). In the process of requesting the connections, the users make the bids and obtain their positions via the same types of communication media (e.g., web, email, SMS, call button). Thus, the biding process is integrated with the process of requesting for the real time communication connection.

In another embodiment, the real time communication connections are established to facilitate the process of bidding for the privilege to speak. The real time communication connection to the connection provider (1901) is used to submit bids and/or receive information on the bidding queue. For example, the broadcast system may present a phone number of the connection provider as part of the broadcast; users who want the privilege to speak can call the connection provider (1901) and place bids; and the connection provider (1901) dynamically connects the call from the winning user into the session based on the bidding result.

In one embodiment, communication connections are individually provided to the users in the audience. The uplinks for transmitting information from the users are selectively provided or enabled to limit the number of users who are granted the privilege to speak. In one embodiment, connections for the audience are capable of facilitating real time, duplex communications; a subset of the users is selected for the privilege to speak, while other users are denied of the privilege to speak. In one embodiment, the information received from the subset of the users are mixed into the communication session, while the information received from other users are not mixed into the communication session (e.g., to effectively mute the other users).

FIG. 33 illustrates a method to manage the privilege to speak in a phone conference according to one embodiment. In FIG. 33, an audience (1935) of callers (e.g., 1941, . . . , 1945, . . . , 1949) can join a phone conference by calling a callee (1939) (e.g., via an Ether button or an Ether phone number of the callee).

In FIG. 33, the connection provider (1933) has full duplex communication connections with the callers (e.g., 1941, . . . , 1945, . . . , 1949) and the callee (1939). The callers may join the conference after purchasing a communication package from the callee (1939) via the connection provider (1933). Alternatively, the callers may pay for the conference on a per minute basis, or join the conference to listen for free.

In one embodiment, when the callee indicates that there is an opportunity for one or more callers to speak in the session, the connection provider (1933) can select (1937) one or more of the input lines from the callers (1941, . . . , 1945, . . . , 1949) for mixing with the communication session, while silencing the other input lines of the callers for the session. Thus, the selected callers are granted the privilege to speak in the session.

In one embodiment, the selection (1937) is at least in part based on the bids. In one embodiment, a queue is presented to the callee (1939) with information such as bid amount, introduction/comments on the requests, etc., to allow the callee (1939) to select a winner. In one embodiment, more than one callers can be selected simultaneously for the privilege to speak.

In one embodiment, when one caller is granted the privilege to speak, the input lines from other callers and/or the callee are muted. In another embodiment, when a number of callers are selected and granted the simultaneous privilege to speak, the input lines from the selected callers and/or the callee are bridged/conferenced to generate the output signals for the communication session, while the other input lines are muted.

In one embodiment, the callee specifies the length of the time period for the privilege to speak; and the callers are provided with the opportunity to bid for the privilege to speak for a period up to the specified length of time.

In one embodiment, the length of the time period for the privilege to speak is not pre-determined; and a caller can specify a bid on a rate for the time duration in which the privilege to speak is granted (e.g., a price for the privilege to speak on a per minute basis). When the caller surrounds the privilege to speak (e.g., by pressing a key sequence on a phone, or a button on a call graphic), or when the callee (1939) instructs the connection provider to terminate the privilege to speak, the caller is charged an amount based on the bid of the caller and the length of the time period in which the caller has the privilege to speak.

In one embodiment, the callee may explicitly instruct the system to terminate the currently awarded privilege to speak (e.g., via a web interface, or pressing a key sequence on the phone).

In another embodiment, a caller can specify the length of time period in which the privilege to speak is requested by the caller. The caller provides a bid on the privilege to speak for the requested time length.

In one embodiment, the information (e.g., voice and/or video input) received form the callers who are granted the privilege to speak is provided to the callee (1939) but not to the other callers. Alternatively, the information (e.g., voice and/or video input) received from the callers who are granted the privilege to speak is mixed into the communication content provided to the audience (1935).

FIG. 34 illustrates a method to auction the privilege to speak according to one embodiment. In FIG. 34, one or more bids for privilege to speak in a communication session are received (2001) from an audience. One or more speakers are selected (2003) from the audience based at least in part on the one or more bids. Voice communications are received (2005) from the one or more speakers and transmitted (2007) to the audience in the communication session. Alternatively, the voice communications are transmitted to a host of the communication session (e.g., callee) but not to the audience.

In one embodiment, in response to the selecting of the one or more speakers, one or more communication connections are provide to the one or more speakers to receive the voice communications (e.g., via calling back a speaker at a telephone number provided by the speaker to provide the communication connection). In one embodiment, the one or more communication connections are at least partially via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

In one embodiment, the voice communications received from the one or more speakers are mixed with an audio stream for transmission to the audience; and the voice communications are transmitted to the audience substantially in real time as the voice communications are received from the one or more speakers.

In one embodiment, one or more communication connections are provided to the one or more speakers; and the one or more bids are received from the one or more communication connections. For example, the one or more bids can be received as audio signals transmitted from the one or more speakers over the one or more communication connections. For example, through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, the speakers can specify the bids using voice commands, or using the buttons on the phone to generate Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals.

In one embodiment, the privilege to speak is for a pre-determined period of time in the communication session. A starting time of the pre-determined period of time may or may not be known a priori to the audience. In one embodiment, a starting time of the pre-determined period is provided to the audience to indicate an end of auction of the privilege to speak. In one embodiment, the auction is conducted in a time period after an opportunity to speak is available.

In one embodiment, an auction of the privilege to speak is started prior to an opportunity to speak is available; and the auction is closed in response to the opportunity to speak.

In one embodiment, the one or more speakers are charged according to the one or more bids in response to the selecting of the one or more speakers. For example, a fee charged to a speaker is determined based on a price bid of a next highest bid below a bid of the speaker (e.g., when the bid of the speaker is a maximum bid, the fee charged to the speaker is one increment above the next highest bid below the bid of the speaker).

In one embodiment, the voice communications are delivered to the audience via a broadcasting media; and the voice communications are received from telephonic connections. In another embodiment, the voice communications are delivered to the audience via phone connections; and the voice communications are received from a selected subset of the phone connections.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram example of a data processing system which may be used with the present invention.

While FIG. 16 illustrates various components of a computer system, it is not intended to represent any particular architecture or manner of interconnecting the components. Other systems that have fewer or more components may also be used with the present invention.

In FIG. 16, the communication device (951) is a form of a data processing system. The system (951) includes an inter-connect (952) (e.g., bus and system core logic), which interconnects a microprocessor(s) (953) and memory (958). The microprocessor (953) is coupled to cache memory (954) in the example of FIG. 16.

The inter-connect (952) interconnects the microprocessor(s) (953) and the memory (958) together and also interconnects them to a display controller and display device (957) and to peripheral devices such as input/output (I/O) devices (955) through an input/output controller(s) (956). Typical I/O devices include mice, keyboards, modems, network interfaces, printers, scanners, video cameras and other devices which are well known in the art.

The inter-connect (952) may include one or more buses connected to one another through various bridges, controllers and/or adapters. In one embodiment the I/O controller (956) includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) adapter for controlling USB peripherals, and/or an IEEE-1394 bus adapter for controlling IEEE-1394 peripherals.

The memory (958) may include ROM (Read Only Memory), and volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) and non-volatile memory, such as hard drive, flash memory, etc.

Volatile RAM is typically implemented as dynamic RAM (DRAM) which requires power continually in order to refresh or maintain the data in the memory. Non-volatile memory is typically a magnetic hard drive, a magnetic optical drive, or an optical drive (e.g., a DVD RAM), or other type of memory system which maintains data even after power is removed from the system. The non-volatile memory may also be a random access memory.

The non-volatile memory can be a local device coupled directly to the rest of the components in the data processing system. A non-volatile memory that is remote from the system, such as a network storage device coupled to the data processing system through a network interface such as a modem or Ethernet interface, can also be used.

In one embodiment, a server data processing system as illustrated in FIG. 16 is used as one of the communication server(s) (e.g., 929, 925, and/or 921 in FIG. 15).

Further, a user terminal as a client system can be a data processing system similar to the system of FIG. 16. A client system can be in the form of a PDA, a cellular phone, a notebook computer or a personal desktop computer. For example, the I/O devices of the user device may include a USB phone, a Bluetooth wireless phone, or one or more speakers or headphones with one or microphones for the implementation of a software based phone.

Alternatively, the traditional communication client(s) may be used in some embodiments of the present invention.

From this description, it will be appreciated that certain aspects of the invention are embodied in the user devices, certain aspects of the invention are embodied in the server systems, and certain aspects of the invention are embodied in a system as a whole.

Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using hardware, programs of instruction, or combinations of hardware and programs of instructions.

In one embodiment, a connection provider uses a connection server configured on a packet switched network to provide telephone connections between callers (e.g., customers) and callees (e.g., advertisers), as illustrated in FIG. 35. In FIG. 35, the connection server (3507) receives and/or places telephone calls via the telecommunication carrier (3505) over the packet switched network (3509). The telecommunication carrier (3505) further routes the telephone communications towards the caller (3501) and the callee (3503).

Since the telecommunication carrier (3505) can route a call from a packet switched network to a variety of destinations (e.g., a traditional analog telephone set, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a WiFi phone, a Bluetooth phone, a softphone running on a computer, etc.), the connection sever (3507) can use one type of communication connection with the telephone carrier (3505) to facilitate the communication connections with variety of devices used by the customers (e.g., callers and callees). Thus, the implementation of the connection server (3507) can be simplified. In one embodiment, the connection server (3507) can also place and/or receive direct VoIP calls to/from the caller (or callee).

For example, to make a voice connection in response to a click-to-call request, the connection server can place separate VoIP calls, via the telecommunication carrier (3505), to the caller (3501) (e.g., the requester of the click-to-call) and the callee (3503) (e.g., the destination of the click-to-call request).

If the caller (3501) (or the callee 3503) is on a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the telecommunication carrier (3505) bridges the packet switched the network and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The telecommunication carrier (3505) routes the call from the packet switched network (3509) to the caller (3501) (or the callee 3503) on the circuit switched network. Thus, the caller (3501) (or the callee 3503) can use a telephone set to receive the call via a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). The connection server (3507) joins the separate calls that are placed via the packet switched network (3509) to connection the callee (3503) and the caller (3501).

In one embodiment, call signaling and media content may use different network paths. While call signaling is arranged to go through the packet switched network (3509) and the connection server (3507), the media stream does not have to go through the connection server (3507). For example, when the calls are joined, the media content may be redirected to flow over the communication carrier (3505) without going through the packet switched network (3509) to the connection server (3507) for improved performance and efficiency. The connection server (3507) can release the control over the media stream to allow the media stream to flow through the shortest path, without going through the connection server, while maintaining control to the connection for the call by staying on the path for call signaling.

In another example, when the caller (3501) initiates a call over a PSTN to the connection server (3507), the telecommunication carrier (3505) converts the call for the packet switched network (3509) for the connection server (3507).

In one embodiment, virtual softphones on the telecommunication carrier (3505) are assigned to the caller (3501) and the callee (3503) for interfacing with the connection server (3507) over the packet switched network (3509). The virtual softphones encapsulates the devices and networks used by the caller (3501) and callee (3503) to access the connection server (3507); and the telecommunication carrier (3505) shields the connection server (3507) from the implementation details of the user devices and networks used by the caller (3501) and the callee (3503). The connection server (3507) calls (or receives calls from) and connects the virtual softphones on the telecommunication carrier (3505) to connect the caller (3501) and the callee (3503).

In FIG. 35, the telephone connection between the telecommunication carrier (3505) and the connection server (3507) is facilitated via a packet switched network (3509). Thus, the connection server (3507) can operate efficiently in a digital domain. The connection server (3507) interfaces with the telecommunication carrier (3505) using one type of Internet Telephony systems (e.g., SIP-based Internet telephony).

Alternatively, a connection server may include some or all of the functionality of the telecommunication carrier (3505). For example, the connection server may be configured to bridge a packet switched network and a circuit switched network. The connection server may support multiple, different types of Internet Telephony systems.

In one embodiment, the connection server (3507) and the telecommunication carrier (3505) are operated by different, separate entities. Alternatively, the connection server (3507) and the telecommunication carrier (3505) may be operated by the same entity. In another embodiment, the telecommunication carrier (3505) includes a set of facilities operated by a number of separate entities.

In one embodiment, the caller (3501) and/or the callee (3503) may also place/receive calls via a packet switched network. The telecommunication carrier (3505) may route the calls between the caller (3501) and the callee (3503) without using a PSTN. In one embodiment, caller (3501) and/or the callee (3503) may place calls to or receive calls from the connection server (3507) via Internet.

FIG. 36 shows a connection server according to one embodiment. In FIG. 36, the connection server (3506) is configured to place and/or receive VoIP calls using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). A session border controller (3601) is used to interface with the packet switched network (3603) and control the types of network traffic related to VoIP calls that might go into the connection server (3605).

In one embodiment, the session border controller (3506) is configured to control the signaling and media stream during the setting up, conducting and tearing down of VoIP calls to or from the connection server (3605). In some embodiments, the session border controller (3506) may pick up the call that comes to the session border controller (3506), places a separate call from the session border controller (3506), and joins the received call and the placed call to control both the signaling and media stream. In some embodiments, the session border controller (3506) may perform signaling/encoding translation to allow the connection server (3605) to process the VoIP calls in one standard, while receiving VoIP calls in a variety of standards (e.g., SIP, H.323, etc.). In one embodiment, the session border controller (3506) is configured to perform one or more firewall functionalities, such as denial of service protection, call filtering, bandwidth management, etc.

In one embodiment, the session border controller (3506) is configured to perform media releasing operation. When the session border controller (3506) determines that the source and destination of a media stream is on the same side of the session border controller (3506) (e.g., both the source and the destination of the media stream is outside the connection server 3605), the session border controller (3506) can release the hairpinning of the media stream and allow the media stream to flow without going through the session border controller (3506).

In FIG. 36, a set of SIP servers (e.g., 3611, 3613, . . . , 3619) are networked to the session border controller (3601) to receive messages for incoming calls and to initiate outgoing calls. The session border controller (3601) is configured to evenly distribute the calls for processing by the SIP servers.

For example, when an incoming message for the initiation of a call is received (e.g., a SIP INVITE message from the telecommunication carrier 3505), the session border controller (3601) may route it to a SIP server (e.g., 3611) for processing. The INVITE message includes the phone number dialed by the caller and the contact information about the caller (e.g., the phone number of the caller 3501 and/or the identity of the virtual SIP phone at the telecommunication carrier 3505).

The SIP server may determine whether the phone number dialed by the caller (3503) is sufficient to determine the phone number of the callee (e.g., 3503). If the phone number of the callee (e.g., 3503) can be determined from the phone number dialed by the caller (3503) (e.g., via decoding the phone number dialed by the callee, or looking up the phone number of the callee from a table using the phone number dialed by the caller as a key), the SIP server can place a separate SIP call to the callee via the packet switched network (3603) and then connect the caller and the callee. Alternatively, the SIP server can further route the SIP INVITE message (e.g., to the telecommunication carrier (3505) to direct the call to the callee. For example, the SIP server may modify the INVITE message by replacing the destination with the determined phone number of the callee. Further, the SIP server can modify the INVITE message by removing the phone number of the caller (or replacing the phone number of the caller with a phone number of the connection server). In one embodiment, the modified INVITE message identifies the virtual softphone corresponding to the caller on the telecommunication carrier as the SIP phone initiated the call; thus, the virtual softphone corresponding to the callee on the telecommunication carrier can establish media connection with the virtual softphone corresponding to the caller on the telecommunication carrier directly. Alternatively, the modified INVITE message may identifies a media server (3621) (or a virtual softphone on SIP server) as the initiator for a separate call. The SIP server then connects the calls for the media stream.

In one embodiment, the caller is first connected to a media server (e.g., 3621, 3623, or 3629). For example, the SIP server may forward the SIP INVITE message to one or more of the media servers for answering the call. When a media server (e.g., 3621) answers the call, a prompt is played to the caller by the media server. The media server may include an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, or be connected to an IVR system, to obtain input from the caller.

For example, the media server may prompt the caller to enter the extension assigned to the callee, such that the phone number of the callee can be determined based on the phone number including the extension dialed by the caller. In some embodiments, the extension dialed by the caller is sufficient to determine the phone number of the callee. After the phone number of the callee is determined, the SIP server can further connect the call to the callee.

For example, the media server can send a message to the SIP server. The message identifies the call and the extension obtained from the caller. The SIP server then determines the callee's phone number based at least on the extension received from the media server and initiates a SIP call via the packet switched network (3603) (e.g., by sending a SIP INVITE message to the telecommunication carrier 3505, which further bridges the call to the callee 3503). Then, the SIP server disconnects the media server from the call and reconnects the call to the callee.

For example, the SIP server can send a SIP BYE message to the media server to disconnect the media server from the call (e.g., by sending a “BYE” message to the media server for the call) and send a re-INVITE message towards the caller to connect the caller and the callee. Alternatively, the media server may send a SIP BYE message to the SIP server for the call; the BYE message may include the extension obtained from the caller; in response to the BYE message that contains the extension, the SIP server determines the phone number of the callee and further connects the caller to the callee.

In one embodiment, the SIP server can direct the caller and the callee to connect to each other for the media stream without having the media stream going through the session border controller (3601) into the connection server (3605). For example, the media stream can go through the telecommunication carrier (3505) in FIG. 35 without going to the connection server (3507) after the SIP server connects the caller and the callee.

However, the SIP server stays on the signaling path to monitor the progress and termination of the call. The SIP server can also break the connection between the caller and the callee, or force the media stream to come through the connection serve (3605). For example, the SIP server may selectively conference a media server into the call to monitor and/or record the communication of the call between the caller and the callee. For example, the SIP server may reconnect the caller and the callee to separate media servers for interaction with an IVR system or a human operator to confirm a deal or transaction.

Similarly, the SIP server may initiate a callback to a caller via a SIP call over the packet switched network (3603) for a connection to the caller. The SIP call may be bridged onto a circuit switched network (e.g., by a telecommunication carrier 3505). The SIP server can then reconnect the call to a media server for sending a prompt to the caller before reconnect the call to the callee. Alternatively, the callback can be initiated from a media server; and the call signaling (e.g., the INVITE message from the media server) goes through the SIP server for call control. Alternatively, the SIP server sends out the INVITE message on behalf of the media server.

In one embodiment, the SIP servers (3611, 3613, . . . , 3619) and media servers (3621, 3623, . . . , 3629) are implemented on separate computers connected via a local area network (and/or intranet or Internet). Alternatively, at least the some of the servers can be implemented on a same computer. In one embodiment, the SIP servers and the media servers are also integrated with the session border controller (3601) on a same data process system having multiple processors coupled with a data bus. In one embodiment, the SIP servers are coupled to the media servers via a network; and a SIP server may use any of the available media server for interaction with the caller (or callee). Alternatively, a SIP server may be configured to use one or more of media servers that are not shared by other SIP server. For example, a SIP server may be implemented on a same data processing system with one or more media servers which are reserved for the SIP server.

In one embodiment, the connection server (3605) may further include a database server (3605) to storing records related to the calls, data mapping between the communication references assigned to the callees and the actual phone numbers of the callees, etc. In one embodiment, contact mapping are cached in the local memory (e.g., RAM) of the servers for improved performance; and the cached mapping is updated when the database is updated.

In general, routines executed to implement the embodiments of the invention may be implemented as part of an operating system or a specific application, component, program, object, module or sequence of instructions referred to as “computer programs. The computer programs typically comprise one or more instructions set at various times in various memory and storage devices in a computer, and that, when read and executed by one or more processors in a computer, cause the computer to perform operations necessary to execute elements involving the various aspects of the invention.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of fully functioning computers and computer systems, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of the invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms and are capable of being applied regardless of the particular type of machine or computer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution.

Examples of computer-readable media include but are not limited to recordable and non-recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memory devices, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory devices, floppy and other removable disks, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media (e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile Disks, (DVDs), etc.), among others. The instructions may be embodied in digital and analog communication links for electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals, such as carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.

A machine readable medium can be used to store software and data which when executed by a data processing system causes the system to perform various methods of the present invention. The executable software and data may be stored in various places including for example ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory and/or cache. Portions of this software and/or data may be stored in any one of these storage devices.

In general, a machine readable medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e., stores and/or transmits) information in a form accessible by a machine (e.g., a computer, network device, personal digital assistant, manufacturing tool, any device with a set of one or more processors, etc.).

Aspects of the present invention may be embodied, at least in part, in software. That is, the techniques may be carried out in a computer system or other data processing system in response to its processor, such as a microprocessor, executing sequences of instructions contained in a memory, such as ROM, volatile RAM, non-volatile memory, cache or a remote storage device.

In various embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in combination with software instructions to implement the present invention. Thus, the techniques are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software nor to any particular source for the instructions executed by the data processing system.

In this description, various functions and operations are described as being performed by or caused by software code to simplify description. However, those skilled in the art will recognize what is meant by such expressions is that the functions result from execution of the code by a processor, such as a microprocessor.

Although some of the drawings illustrate a number of operations in a particular order, operations which are not order dependent may be reordered and other operations may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and so do not present an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: presenting, by a computing device, a broadcast to an audience comprising a plurality of members, the broadcast selected from the group consisting of a radio station broadcast, a television station broadcast and a teleconference; receiving, by the computing device, a plurality of bids from a respective plurality of members of the audience for the privilege to provide communications input as part of the broadcast; selecting, via the computing device, a member from the plurality of bidding audience members to provide communications input as part of the broadcast based at least in part on a value of the bid from the selected audience member; receiving communications input from the selected audience member; and transmitting the communications input received from the selected audience member to the audience as part of the broadcast.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to selecting the selected audience member, providing at least one communication connection to the selected audience member to receive the communications input.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the at least one communication connection comprises: calling back the selected audience member at a telephone number provided by the selected audience member.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one communication connection is at least partially via voice over Internet protocol.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the at least one communication connection comprises: a connection provider establishing a first voice over Internet protocol call with a telecommunication carrier using a telephone number provided by the selected audience member, the telecommunication carrier bridging the first voice over Internet protocol call to a switch of a public switched telephone network to the selected audience member.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: mixing the communications input received from the selected audience member with an audio stream for broadcast to the audience.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the communications input is broadcast to the audience substantially in real time as the communications input is received from the selected audience member.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the bids from the members of the audience are received from via the at least one communication connection.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein bids from the members of the audience are received as audio signals transmitted over the at least one communication connection.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the privilege to provide communications input is for a pre-determined period of time as part of the broadcast.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a starting time of the pre-determined period of time is not known a priori to the audience.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a starting time of the pre-determined period to the audience to indicate an end of an auction of the privilege to provide communications input.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the auction is conducted in a time period after an opportunity to provide communications input is available.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: starting an auction of the privilege to provide communications input prior to when an opportunity to provide communications input is available.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the auction is closed in response to the availability of the opportunity to provide communications input.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to selecting the selected audience member, charging the selected audience member according to the at least one bid from the selected audience member.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a fee charged to the selected audience member based on a price bid of a next highest bid below a bid of the selected audience member; wherein the fee charged to the selected audience member is one increment above the next highest bid below the bid of the selected audience member.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications input is delivered to the audience via a broadcasting media; and the communications input is received from a telephonic connection.
 19. A tangible non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to: present a broadcast to an audience comprising a plurality of members, the broadcast selected from the group consisting of a radio station broadcast, a television station broadcast and a teleconference; receive a plurality of bids from a respective plurality of members of the audience for the privilege to provide communications input as part of the broadcast; select a member from the plurality of bidding audience members to provide communications input as part of the broadcast based at least in part on a value of the bid from the selected audience member; receive communications input from the selected audience member; and transmit the communications input received from the selected audience member to the audience as part of the broadcast.
 20. A system, comprising: a processor; and memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: present a broadcast to an audience comprising a plurality of members, the broadcast selected from the group consisting of a radio station broadcast, a television station broadcast and a teleconference; receive a plurality of bids from a respective plurality of members of the audience for the privilege to provide communications input as part of the broadcast; select a member from the plurality of bidding audience members to provide communications input as part of the broadcast based at least in part on a value of the bid from the selected audience member; receive communications input from the selected audience member; and transmit the communications input received from the selected audience member to the audience as part of the broadcast. 